Analysis – April 2011
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The number of new motor vehicles sold declined 1.1% in April to 134,529 units. Higher sales in Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia (including the territories) were more than offset by declines in the other provinces.
Preliminary industry data indicate that the number of new motor vehicles sold in May decreased 6%.
Truck sales drive decline
Sales of trucks (which include minivans, sport-utility vehicles, light and heavy trucks, vans and buses) decreased 3.0% in April, erasing gains reported in the previous month.
Passenger car sales increased 1.4%, a third consecutive monthly gain. Overseas-built passenger cars accounted for the advance, rising 5.4%. After three months of gains, sales of North American-built passenger cars fell 0.8%. Sales of North American built passenger cars have been on the rise since the middle of 2010.
Alberta leads declines
In April, higher sales in Quebec (+0.6%), Ontario (+0.4%) and the region formed by British Columbia and the territories (+0.9%) were more than offset by declines in the other provinces.
The largest decline in units sold was in Alberta (-2.5%), following three straight months of increases.
The remaining provinces posted decreases that ranged from 5.9% in New Brunswick to 9.2% in Manitoba.
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