New light vehicle sales weakened across much of Canada in November, with softness no longer confined to Quebec, according to DesRosiers Automotive Consultants. While Quebec again led the declines, several major provinces posted meaningful year-over-year losses, underscoring broader pressure on the national market.
In Quebec, November sales fell 16.5 per cent compared with the same month in 2024, reflecting an exceptionally tough comparison against last year’s elevated results. From both a percentage and volume standpoint, Quebec’s decline was the most pronounced in the country. British Columbia followed closely, recording a 13.6 per cent year-over-year drop, while Ontario saw a more modest 5.4 per cent decrease that carried greater weight given the province’s size.
Only two provinces experienced growth in November. Nova Scotia posted a 2.0 per cent increase, while Manitoba edged higher by 0.9 per cent. Elsewhere, sales momentum remained under pressure as affordability concerns and uneven consumer demand continued to weigh on showroom traffic.
Year-to-date figures are now showing cracks as well. Both Quebec and British Columbia slipped into negative territory through November, down 2.0 per cent and 1.1 per cent, respectively. Despite these setbacks, the national market remains modestly ahead of last year, with year-to-date sales up 2.7 per cent.
“From a sales perspective, Quebec continued to be the ‘sujet du jour’, seeing a significant sales decline against an artificially strong November 2024,” said Andrew King, managing partner at DAC, in a statement. “But concerningly, Quebec was not alone, with widespread market weakness from coast to coast.”
DAC estimates total November new light vehicle sales at 142,000 units, representing an 8.6 per cent decline from November 2024. With year-end approaching, regional softness—especially in Ontario, Quebec and B.C.—may complicate volume targets. Dealers may need to lean more heavily on incentives, inventory discipline and local market intelligence as momentum cools unevenly across the country.
