Soft month sees slight dip in truck sales
Sales for May were down slightly as automakers pointed at high fuel costs and Japanese-related supply issues for the decline.
Ford again held on to its spot at the top of the heap despite an overall decline for the month. The Blue Oval reported sales of 25,448 units, down 2.6 per cent from the 26,122 sold during the same time last year.
Of positive note for Ford was an increase of 21 per cent in car sales, a tally that countered a 10 per cent slide in trucks to 17,914.
Chrysler Canada reported total sales of 24,406, representing an increase of 17 per cent over the same period, one year ago and good enough to nab second spot year-to-date.
“It is one of those unique times when everything is going right,” said Reid Bigland, president and CEO of Chrysler Canada.
Jeep Wrangler was one of Chrysler’s big winners with 1,918 units sold. Jeep Grand Cherokee sales nearly quadrupled in May, with 944 units sold, compared to the same period in 2010. Total car sales increased 12 per cent for the month, led by the Chrysler 200 sedan with 769 units. Fiat posted a healthy month, too, with 651 sales.
Toyota Canada was down again in May. The 12,030 total Toyota, Lexus and Scion cars, trucks and SUVs represented a 32.7 per cent plummet.
“We are undertaking aggressive measures with our program protection guarantee so Canadians can buy with confidence knowing they are protected for deliveries to the end of September,” said Tony Wearing, Managing Director, Toyota Canada Inc.
The program guarantee covers Toyota, Lexus and Scion finance, lease and cash sales offers until Sept. 30, 2011.
Winners in May included Kia Canada, best ever month with 6,928 units; Volkswagen was up 26 per cent to 5,776; Subaru Canada set a sales record with 2,576 cars; and Volvo Canada reported a 20 per cent climb with 770 vehicles sold.
Automakers on the negative end of the sales tally included Nissan Canada down 18 per cent; Honda dropped 13.3 per cent to 8,739; while Mitsubishi sales stuttered to 1,730.
