Auto sales fail to match 2017’s record pace

RICHMOND HILL, Ont. — DesRosiers Automotive Consultants says a five-year growth trend in year-to-date sales of new light vehicles in Canada ended in June.

The Toronto auto market watcher says 1,036,677 new light vehicles were sold in Canada in the first six months of the year, down 0.2% from the record-setting six-month total of 1,039,068 in the same period of 2017.

It was the first decline in year-to-date numbers since March 2013 and comes as June marked the fourth month in a row of year-over-year monthly declines in sales.

Sales of new vehicles were down 1.6 per cent in June at 200,156 versus the same month last year, as a 1.4% gain in sales of light trucks was more than offset by an 8% decline in passenger car sales.

Among the top three new vehicle sales leaders, General Motors recorded the only June increase at 1.8%.

GM was second with 27,638 sales behind Ford with 31,179 sales, while Fiat Chrysler placed third with 22,479 sales.

DesRosiers says Genesis ramped up June sales by 175%, from 60 in June 2017 to 165 vehicle sales last month, while Volvo, Smart, and Land Rover also recorded sales increases of more than 20%.