TORONTO: Automakers broadly notched decent growth in Canadian sales in February, data released by the companies and collated by an industry group showed on Wednesday, as growth in truck sales offset a slowdown in passenger car purchases. The industry sold 123,032 new light vehicles in the month, a 3.2 percent gain from a year ago and a record for overall February sales, according to DesRosiers Automotive Consultants. “2017 is off to a strong start,” the industry analysts wrote, noting that truck sales grew 5.2 percent while passenger car sales slipped 2.1 percent.
Truck sales were a particular source of strength for Ford Motor Co (F.N: Quote), while fleet sales boosted overall numbers for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCHA.MI: Quote), the automakers said in separate statements. General Motors Co (GM.N: Quote) said it delivered 16,528 vehicles across its Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac brands in the month, a 5 percent increase from a year earlier.
Ford said it sold 18,985 vehicles in Canada in the month, its best February performance since 2000 and a 3.2 percent increase from the 18,403 it sold in the same month a year ago. That included 16,800 truck sales, with its popular F-Series notching its best-ever February sales, the company said in a statement. Chrysler said it sold 19,115 vehicles in the month, a 2 percent increase from a year ago, with higher fleet sales helping offset a slip in retail activity.
