OTTAWA: Auto sales in Canada continued to grow in June, up 1.2 per cent to 177,857 vehicles, according to DesRosiers Automotive Reports.
Sales of light trucks continue to climb, up 11.5 per cent from last year to 109,400, while car sales fell by 11.7 per cent to 68,457.
GM sales were up 15 per cent and Toyota sales up 10.5 per cent and FCA Canada reported a one per cent increase. Land Rover, Lexus and Mini sales also rose.
Ford Canada sales dropped 13 per cent to 26,784 vehicles sold, but it still outsold its nearest rivals.
Ford reported an 11 per cent improvement in sales of the Canadian-built 2015 Ford Edge.
The 2016 Ford Explorer began hitting dealerships in June and also saw an increase, along with Mustang and the Lincoln brand.
But the company also announced another recall. Ford is recalling 52,000 vehicles in Canada, including 2015 Focus, C-MAX and Escape models, because of a software problem that could keep their engines running after drivers try to shut them down.
General Motors said all of its brands — Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac — saw improved Canadian sales with a total of 24,226 vehicles sold.
Canadians are now the third-largest buyer of Cadillacs in the world, with strong sales of Cadillac Escalade and SRX, GM said.
FCA, formerly Fiat Chrysler Automotive, said it had total sales of 27,217 vehicles in June, including 9,081 Ram brand trucks.
FCA has completed its retooling of the Windsor, Ont., plant and employees are back to building Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans.
FCA reported an increase of 14 per cent in minivan sales with 6,186 minivans sold.
Toyota Canada Inc. sold 20,689 vehicles in June, an increase of 10.5 per cent from last year. Toyota is strong in the passenger car segment, selling 9,169 cars and 1,099 hybrids, despite reports that lower gas prices are eating into hybrid sales. Its truck sales were 9,606, led by Rav4 sales.
