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New motor vehicle sales
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Strong demand for North American-built passenger cars drove new motor vehicle sales 3.0% higher in November, following two consecutive monthly declines. Consumers purchased 140,012 new vehicles, an increase of about 4,000 vehicles from the previous month. Almost 85% of this increase came from sales in Ontario.
Preliminary figures from the automotive industry indicate that sales continued to rebound in December as the number of new vehicles sold is estimated to have increased by approximately 5% over the month.
Despite fluctuations in the second half of the year, 2006 sales of new motor vehicles continued their relatively stable upward trend. Prior to 2006, sales showed sizable fluctuations throughout 2005 with the introduction and subsequent removal of dealer incentive programs.
Note to readersAll data in this release are seasonally adjusted. Passenger cars include those used for personal and commercial purposes, such as taxis or rental cars. Trucks include minivans, sport-utility vehicles, light and heavy trucks, vans and buses. North American built new motor vehicles include vehicles manufactured or assembled in Canada, the United States or Mexico. All other new motor vehicles are considered to have been manufactured overseas. For reasons of confidentiality, data for Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut are included with those for British Columbia. The New Motor Vehicle Sales Survey is compiled on the basis of figures obtained from motor vehicle manufacturers and importers. These results may vary from those obtained directly from auto dealers, due to possible differences in record keeping. |
Passenger car sales rebound
While both passenger car and truck sales increased in November, passenger cars outperformed trucks, accounting for almost 84% of the increase in total vehicles sold.
Passenger car sales advanced 5.0% to 71,536 units in November. In 2006, passenger car sales remained relatively flat, up until October when sales dropped 7.0%. November's sales gain mostly offset October's decline, resulting in a relatively flat trend.
North American-built passenger cars were the main driving force behind the national sales gain in November, climbing 8.9% to partially recoup the 11.8% plunge in October. Overseas-built car sales slipped 1.8% after gaining 2.7% in the previous month.
Truck sales (which include minivans, sport-utility vehicles, light and heavy trucks, vans and buses) edged up 1.0% to 68,476 vehicles in November, the highest November sales on record and a second consecutive monthly increase. During the first half of 2006, truck sales were relatively stable, followed by a series of fluctuations in recent months.
Most of the national increase occurred in Ontario
In Ontario, new motor vehicle sales gained 7.0% in November to 52,627 units. This gain represents 84.5% of the national increase in November, offsetting declines in September and October. Despite recent instability, new motor vehicle sales have remained relatively stable in Ontario since the end of 2005.
Nearly all other provinces post gains
The number of new motor vehicles sold increased in eight provinces in November with Nova Scotia (+11.5%) experiencing the largest gain. New Brunswick (+10.6%) and Prince Edward Island (+8.5%) also registered strong sales during November.
In the West, Alberta (-3.7%) and British Columbia (-3.3%) were the only provinces to experience declines in November. New motor vehicle sales in both provinces started strong in the first half of the year, but have experienced a sales downturn in recent months.
Available on CANSIM: tables 079-0001 and 079-0002.
Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 2402.
The November 2006 issue of New Motor Vehicle Sales (63-007-XWE, free) will be available soon.
Data on new motor vehicle sales for December will be released on February 14.
For general information or to order data, contact Client Services (1-877-421-3067; 613-951-3549; retailinfo@statcan.gc.ca). To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Ashley Ker (613-951-2252), Distributive Trades Division.
Table(s).
