Canadian sales of new cars and light trucks continued to rise last month, helping push demand to its highest level ever for August, according to data compiled by DesRosiers Automotive Consultants.
Ford Motor Company finished top of the sales charts, though interestingly, much of the automaker’s growth was attributed to boosts in passenger car volume, particularly its Fiesta and Fusion models. With 27,257 units sold for the month, Ford’s totals represented a healthy 7.1 per cent gain on August 2012 numbers.
Finishing in second place was Chrysler Canada, which having put in a strong performance consistently this year, delivered 21,802 units, up 6.6 per cent from a year ago. General Motors, which rounded out the top three, showed only a slight gain over last year’s numbers — 21,091 sales representing just a 0.1 per cent gain. GM is in the middle of a major new product overhaul and its 2014 full-size pickups are expected to provide a welcome shot in the arm for its Canadian dealers, which should bode well for the future.
Fourth place Toyota actually saw declines compared with last year, while fifth place Honda continues to ramp up — 14,552 sales representing an impressive 20.5 per cent gain on the figures from last August. The revamped Civic and popular CR-V continue to prove a hit with buyers, alongside the updated 2013 Accord.
Other big winners for the month were Jaguar, which continues to enjoy triple digit growth, as well as smart, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Land Rover, Nissan and Subaru. BMW, and its MINI brand which have shown strong gains in recent years, both posted declines for August — BMW, with 2,260 sales, saw demand decline by more than 15 per cent compared with a year earlier, while MINI sales skidded 11.4 per cent.
Overall the Canadian vehicle market continues to perform well — this year’s sales totals have been consistently strong, the healthiest since 2008. And while consumer debt levels continue to rise, Canadians appear to be managing what they owe and remain eager to purchase new cars and trucks.
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