Best June on record for Canadian new car sales

The Canadian vehicle market inched upwards from last year’s chart-topping June sales to set another monthly record in June 2013, according to DesRosier Automotive Consultants. Despite paltry sales growth of 1.3 percent, 171,608 units were sold last month, representing the best June yet seen in Canada.

Inconsistent sales results dominated the brand landscape last month. Ford achieved the month’s highest sales total of 28,703 units, but this success was achieved on volumes that trailed 2012 levels by 6.0 percent. Chrysler (+10.8% / 26,054 units) and General Motors (+8.0% / 24,707 units) both outperformed the market.

Other brands showing positive momentum in June included Honda/Acura (+10.4%), Hyundai (+6.1%) and Subaru (+27.1%). Weak or stagnant sales characterized the relative performances of other mainstream manufacturers including Kia (-0.1%), Mazda (-22.5%), Mitsubishi (-4.0%), Nissan/Infiniti (-10.0%), Toyota/Lexus (-4.0%) and Volkswagen (+1.9%).

Lower volume European luxury manufacturers saw growth while some higher volume luxury leaders experienced stagnation in June. Brands like Jaguar (+132.4%), Porsche (+18.9%) and Land Rover (+11.7%) saw sales increases well in excess of the larger market, albeit on small volumes. Conversely, BMW/MINI (-1.5%) and Mercedes-Benz/smart (-2.6%) did not participate in the sales rally. Audi achieved a 23.3 percent sales increase.

While June was a record setting month for all Canadian new-car sales, Volkswagen Canada has now posted record sales results for eighteen consecutive months. In June, 5,606 new cars and light trucks were sold by the company, 2% above last year’s total of 5,500. Year-to-date sales of 31,337 are also at record-setting levels, 9% over last year (28,862).

The Jetta remains a best-seller, with 2,541 sold last month, and the Tiguan compact sport utility increased its sales by 35% over last year.

Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac all performed well in June, as dealers delivered 24,707 vehicles in June 2013, an increase of 8 per cent compared to last June.

"Chevrolet and GMC pick-up trucks led the charge in June with an increase of more than 10 per cent for the month, including strong sales of current generation pick-ups as well as the first month of sales for our all-new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra," said Rob Assimakopoulos, GM of Canada’s general director of marketing and communications. "As the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks continue to roll into dealerships, Canadians are responding to these stronger, smarter and more capable pick-up trucks, which are all-new from hood-to-hitch."