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The number of new motor vehicles sold declined for a second consecutive month in April, falling 4.7% to 125,792 units. April's decrease was mainly a result of lower sales of passenger cars.
Preliminary industry data indicate that the number of new motor vehicles sold remained unchanged in May.
Passenger car sales drive decline
Sales of passenger cars decreased 9.5% to 57,639 units in April. Overseas-built passenger cars (-15.7%) accounted for most of this decline, negating the increases registered at the beginning of the year. Sales of North American-built passenger cars (-4.0%) fell for a second consecutive month.
Sales of trucks (which include minivans, sport-utility vehicles, light and heavy trucks, vans and buses) decreased 0.2% to 68,153 units in April. Truck sales have exceeded passenger car sales for the past five months.
Sales down in all provinces
New motor vehicle sales were down in all provinces in April.
The 8.5% sales decrease in Quebec had the largest impact on national sales. Sales in this province had been increasing since the beginning of 2009.
Sales of new motor vehicles in Ontario (-4.0%) fell for a second consecutive month. The significant sales increase in February has been largely offset by the decreases in March and April.
New motor vehicle sales in the region formed by British Columbia and the territories fell 1.5%. Sales in the region have declined every month since October 2009, following a period of steady growth.
Available on CANSIM: table 079-0003.
Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 2402.
The April 2010 issue of New Motor Vehicle Sales (63-007-X, free) will be available soon.
Data on new motor vehicle sales for May will be released on July 15.
For general information or to order data, contact Client Services (toll-free 1-877-421-3067; 613-951-3549; retailinfo@statcan.gc.ca). To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Mark Switzer (613-951-7137), Distributive Trades Division.
Table 1
| April 2009 | March 2010r | April 2010p | April 2009 to April 2010 | March to April 2010 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seasonally adjusted | |||||
| number of vehicles | % change | ||||
| New motor vehicles | 120,024 | 131,937 | 125,792 | 4.8 | -4.7 |
| Passenger cars | 60,637 | 63,677 | 57,639 | -4.9 | -9.5 |
| North American1 | 33,195 | 34,000 | 32,633 | -1.7 | -4.0 |
| Overseas | 27,442 | 29,677 | 25,006 | -8.9 | -15.7 |
| Trucks, vans and buses | 59,387 | 68,260 | 68,153 | 14.8 | -0.2 |
| New motor vehicles | |||||
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 2,386 | 2,698 | 2,431 | 1.9 | -9.9 |
| Prince Edward Island | 467 | 505 | 458 | -1.9 | -9.3 |
| Nova Scotia | 3,871 | 4,041 | 4,009 | 3.6 | -0.8 |
| New Brunswick | 2,873 | 3,247 | 3,244 | 12.9 | -0.1 |
| Quebec | 32,350 | 36,309 | 33,233 | 2.7 | -8.5 |
| Ontario | 43,629 | 48,444 | 46,521 | 6.6 | -4.0 |
| Manitoba | 3,623 | 3,598 | 3,539 | -2.3 | -1.6 |
| Saskatchewan | 3,624 | 3,790 | 3,694 | 1.9 | -2.5 |
| Alberta | 15,150 | 16,522 | 16,077 | 6.1 | -2.7 |
| British Columbia2 | 12,051 | 12,783 | 12,586 | 4.4 | -1.5 |
| April 2009 | March 2010r | April 2010p | April 2009 to April 2010 | ||
| Unadjusted | |||||
| number of vehicles | % change | ||||
| New motor vehicles | 146,026 | 148,052 | 152,196 | 4.2 | |
| Passenger cars | 75,332 | 70,252 | 70,512 | -6.4 | |
| North American1 | 40,460 | 38,427 | 37,922 | -6.3 | |
| Overseas | 34,872 | 31,825 | 32,590 | -6.5 | |
| Trucks, vans and buses | 70,694 | 77,800 | 81,684 | 15.5 | |
| New motor vehicles | |||||
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 3,148 | 2,822 | 3,161 | 0.4 | |
| Prince Edward Island | 551 | 529 | 545 | -1.1 | |
| Nova Scotia | 4,860 | 4,404 | 5,106 | 5.1 | |
| New Brunswick | 3,556 | 3,553 | 4,077 | 14.7 | |
| Quebec | 44,077 | 44,715 | 44,430 | 0.8 | |
| Ontario | 51,047 | 53,788 | 54,371 | 6.5 | |
| Manitoba | 4,236 | 3,770 | 4,103 | -3.1 | |
| Saskatchewan | 4,035 | 3,899 | 4,188 | 3.8 | |
| Alberta | 17,076 | 17,476 | 18,256 | 6.9 | |
| British Columbia2 | 13,440 | 13,096 | 13,959 | 3.9 | |
