August’s new-vehicle sales gains were not confined to Canada’s biggest markets. Nine of 10 provinces recorded year-over-year increases, helping push national sales higher for a third consecutive month.
DesRosiers Automotive Consultants (DAC) said approximately 168,000 new light vehicles were sold during the month, up 5.4 per cent from 160,000 in August 2025. It was the largest year-over-year increase of the past three months.
Ontario contributed close to 4,500 additional units as sales increased 7.1 per cent in Canada’s largest provincial market. Quebec recorded a more moderate 4.1 per cent increase but also added significant volume to the national total.
The strongest percentage gain came from Manitoba, where sales jumped 18.9 per cent from a year earlier. Saskatchewan followed with a 10.8 per cent increase.
Prince Edward Island was the only province to move in the opposite direction, with sales falling 11.9 per cent. DAC described the province as a historically volatile market.
“While last August was hardly a challenging comparable, this third month of sales growth is a welcome sight given the challenges faced by Canadian consumers, and the uncertainty faced by the broader automotive sector,” said Andrew King, Managing Partner at DAC, in a statement.
The recent gains have not yet pushed the overall market ahead of 2025. Through August, Canadians purchased approximately 1.29 million new light vehicles, leaving year-to-date sales 1.2 per cent below the same period last year.
Nova Scotia and Quebec were the only provinces recording year-to-date growth through August, according to DAC.
