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November 20, 2007 |
(CANADIAN PRESS)�Auto sales in Canada were up 2.1 per cent in October as market leader General Motors reported a 13.2 per cent increase over year-ago levels while the two biggest Japanese players suffered declines. Light vehicle sales totaled 120,926 for the month, according to an industry tally by DesRosiers Automotive Consultants. Sales of passenger cars slipped one per cent to 61,795, against a 5.6 per cent increase to 59,131 in sales of trucks, including pickups, sport utility vehicles and minivans.
At GM, sales of passenger cars rose 19.2 per cent to 13,486 while trucks advanced 8.8 per cent to 16,841, for a total of 30,327. Ford posted a 6.2 per cent increase to 16,863, followed by Chrysler, up 2.6 per cent to 15,411 over the same month last year when 15,020 units were sold. So far this year, Chrysler Canada has sold 195,284 vehicles, an increase of 5.7 per cent over the same period last year, according to a company release. During November, the company says it is restructuring and increasing its incentive offers. The incentives include �significant cash enhancements and the return of the �3 for Free' sales program,'' it said. The incentives consist of cash rebates of up to $10,750, an increase of up to $5,250 over October. The �3 for Free'' program includes nearly every 2007 Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicle, plus the 2008 Grand Caravan, Town Country, Avenger, Ram 1500 and Ram Heavy Duty. �Retail customers have driven up our 15-month streak of sales growth and to ensure that it continues, we have restructured our incentives to meet the concerns of Canadian customers,� said Dave Buckingham, vice-president of sales.
Toyota Canada reported a 9.5 per cent decline to 14,484 vehicles last month. Honda was off 5.6 per cent at 10,123 and its luxury Acura division posted a 28 per cent slump to 1,254. The combined Honda and Acura division sales were down nine per cent over last year, according to a company release. Sales of Toyota-badged vehicles were down 11 per cent to 13,358 with passenger car sales were down 16.4 per cent and truck sales up 1.4 per cent. Toyota's premium Lexus division moved 1,126 units, a gain of 13.4 per cent. Among Toyota's highlights was a 422 per cent increase in sales of its big Tundra pickup to 939. Sales of the fuel-efficient Prius hybrid rose 27 per cent to 177.
Among the other Japanese makers, Mazda was up one per cent to 6,040 and Nissan rose 2.4 per cent to 5,851 while its upscale Infiniti line lost 11.9 per cent to 480. Mitsubishi accelerated 61.5 per cent to 1,381, passing Suzuki and threatening Subaru among the smaller players from Japan. Hyundai sales were flat at 5,803 while Korean stablemate Kia gained 18.9 per cent to 2,919.
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