Cash For Clunkers wasn’t a major event in Canada in August of 2009. Sales, therefore, weren’t artificially elevated. This creates the possibility of increased auto sales volume in August 2010. Compared with August 2009, however, passenger car sales were down 10.9% to 60,938 overall. Take light truck sales into account and you’ll add another 75,131 vehicle sales thanks to a 12.2% jump.
Ford Motor Company was able to enjoy increased sales more than any other automaker. Although its gains weren’t the greatest, sales of Canada’s favourite truck (the F-Series) and favourite muscle car (the 2011 Ford Mustang) and the antiquated Focus and surprisingly capable Fusion were strong enough to keep Ford on top. The breakdown of FMC, General Motors, and Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep will come later in the month.
Digression aside, U.S. auto sales weren’t so fortunately fortified. Resulting mainly from excited customers buying up cars in huge numbers last summer, year-over-year figures stumbled out of the gate in August of 2010. Canada’s auto sales picture in August, though improved from last year, still wasn’t as good as August versions from 2005, 2006, 2007, or 2008.
Before you analyze the Sales Stats below, take these three points from The Good Car Guy. Honda beat Hyundai in overall sales – it had been a while. We haven’t seen Cadillac’s figures for August 2010, BMW appears to have been the best-selling luxury automaker in the country last month. Finally, Toyota. Toyota? What on Earth happened to Toyota?
Chevrolet: +28.1% to 14,747
Dodge: +16.4% to 12,500
GMC: +20.4% to 6,818
Jeep: +40% to 3,071
Buick: +121% to 1,185
Cadillac: +157% to 649
Lincoln: -16.5% to 521
Maserati: +400% to 10
Ferrari: +12.5% to 9
Lamborghini: +100% to 6
Bentley: level at 4