Auto sales down 3.5% in April as downward trend continues
By CP STAFF
Industry Automotive Manufacturing automotive DesRosiers Economy manufacturing14th consecutive month of sales declines when compared with the previous year.
TORONTO — DesRosiers Automotive Consultants Inc. says light vehicle sales fell an estimated 3.5% in April from a year earlier as a downward trend in Canadian auto sales continued.
The automotive consultant says light vehicle sales totalled about 185,158 for the month, down from 191,856 last year.
The total is an estimate, since General Motors Canada switched from monthly to quarterly sales reporting starting in April.
The dip in April marked the 14th consecutive month of sales declines when compared with the previous year.
A consumer shift away from passenger cars towards generally higher-emission SUVs and pickup truck options continued in April, with car sales down 15.9 per cent for the month while light truck sales rose 1.8%.
DesRosiers said US automakers Ford, Chrysler and General Motors saw sales declines in the single digits, while Toyota, Volkswagen and Hyundai saw sales rise.
