Car sales surge in October on way to record year, says DesRosiers
by The Canadian Press
Auto watcher Dennis DesRosiers says setting a record year in 2015 is "looking less like a possibility and more like a reality''
TORONTO—New car sales surged again in October as the industry continues to race towards its best year ever, according to figures compiled by DesRosiers Automotive Consultants.
DesRosiers says Canadians bought 163,053 light vehicles in October, a 5.1 per cent increase over last year’s previous all-time high for the month set in 2014.
Last month was a particularly satisfying one for luxury nameplates, with Land Rover up 71.9 per cent, Porsche rising 45.4 per cent and Lexus up 29.4 per cent.
DesRosiers says other brands that enjoyed double-digit sales growth in October included Nissan (up 24.4 per cent), Infiniti (up 22.8 per cent), Honda (up 14.7 per cent), Volvo (up 12.3 per cent) and Subaru (up 11.7 per cent).
Even Volkswagen’s recent woes over its diesel offerings didn’t appear to impact overall sales, as the German automaker posted an 8.3 per cent gain to 5,715 vehicles sold.
General Motors took the sales title for October for the first time since April, with a 5.8 per cent increase in sales to 23,268 cars and light trucks. That was just ahead of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, whose sales edged up 0.4 per cent to 22,384.
Among other major brands, Ford Canada sales increased 0.2 per cent to 22,080 vehicles, while Toyota Canada sales were up 4.2 per cent at 16,891 vehicles and Hyundai sales rose 4.4 per cent to 11,607.
By category, passenger car sales fell 9.6 per cent to 58,711 last month, but the decline was more than offset by a 15.7 per cent increase in light truck sales to 104,342 vehicles.
“As we continue to close in on year end, setting a record year in 2015 is looking less like a possibility and more like a reality,” DesRosiers said.
