Analysis – July 2011
Archived Content
Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please "contact us" to request a format other than those available.
The number of new motor vehicles sold fell 6.2% in July to 132,386 units, partially offsetting the gains in June. Truck and passenger car sales both declined. Lower sales in Ontario accounted for half of the national decrease.
Preliminary industry data indicate that the number of new motor vehicles sold in August decreased 1%.
Sales fall for both trucks and passenger cars
Sales of trucks (which include minivans, sport-utility vehicles, light and heavy trucks, vans and buses) fell 5.9% to 76,360 units in July, a third decline in four months.
Passenger car sales in July decreased 6.7% to 56,026 units. North American-built passenger cars (-10.3%) accounted for most of the decline, which partially offset the 20.0% increase registered in June. Sales of overseas-built passenger cars edged down 0.2%, continuing a downward trend which began in early 2010.
Sales down in most provinces
New motor vehicle sales decreased in nine provinces in July.
The largest decrease in units sold was in Ontario, where sales fell 8.3%, partially offsetting the increase in June.
Sales in Alberta decreased 7.9% in July. Sales of new motor vehicles have been on an upward trend since the beginning of 2011.
New motor vehicle sales in Quebec fell 4.1%, contributing to a downward trend in sales that began in late 2010.
Nova Scotia (+1.1%) was the sole province to report a rise in sales, a second consecutive monthly increase.
- Date modified: