2019 great for Canadian light vehicle sales
In fourth-best year on record, SUVs accounted for nearly half of those sales
As we enter a new year and a new decade, there is no denying the ongoing significance of the auto sector in the Canadian economy. As proof, recent statistics by DesRosiers Automotive Consultants (DAC), the country’s only dedicated automotive market research company, serve to drive home that point.
Year-end figures show Canada’s new light vehicle sales market finished 2019 with just over 1.9 million units sold, making it the fourth best sales year on record. And while this may represent a decline over 2018, experts suggest part of the reason is that consumers are spending more on vehicles that tend to last longer.
2019 was a success story for SUVs, with sales topping 900,000 for the very first time — and incredibly close to claiming half of the new light vehicle sales, reaching nearly 48 per cent by the end of the year. The subcompact, large luxury, large, and luxury compact SUV segments outpaced the overall market with a gain of 28.5 per cent over last year. The rise of the SUV underlines the fact that Canadians are increasingly looking for these types of vehicles for practicality, safety, and improving fuel efficiency.
Among the increasingly popular SUVs is the Canadian-made Toyota RAV4, which claimed top spot with just over 65,248 units sold, an increase of 17.8 per cent. This is a trend we expect to see continuing over the next year, as Canadians are looking for reliable products designed for a wide range of terrains. The Ford F-Series and Honda Civic continued their dominance in the light truck and passenger car categories — as they topped sales of 145,000 and 60,000 units respectively.
As we near the Vancouver International Auto Show, be assured that many of the world’s top auto manufacturers will be displaying their latest models — whether those are cars, pickup trucks, SUVs, or the latest and greatest in the electric vehicle (EV) category.
While year-end Canadian EV sales results are not yet available, 2019 totals will undoubtedly establish a new record. B.C. has assumed a leadership position on this front, with more than 30,000 EV’s now travelling our roads and highways.
Of course, you can get a better idea of the future of the automotive industry, just one feature of the 100th edition of the Vancouver International Auto Show at the Vancouver Convention Centre West from March 25 to March 29.
Check out the latest in vehicle unveils and find something that suits your unique lifestyle at this milestone event. For more info and to purchase tickets, visit VancouverInternationalAutoShow.com
Blair Qualey is President and CEO of the New Car Dealers Association of BC. You can email him at bqualey@newcardealers.ca