New vehicle sales in Canada got off to a strong start in 2016, with car and light truck sales in January up 9.6% from the same month a year earlier.
Canadian sales last month totaled 108,553 vehicles, just shy of the January record of 110,266 vehicles sold in 2002, according to figures compiled by DesRosiers and Associates.
The overall increase in sales last month was due entirely to higher sales of light trucks (which includes pickups, minivans, crossovers and SUVs). Passenger car sales actually fell slightly.
Toyota Canada reported its best January sales figures ever. It moved 12,045 cars and light trucks, up 4.5% from January 2015.
Honda Canada said its January sales were more than a third larger than last year with 1.89 million vehicles sold.
Ford of Canada said its sales last month were up 14% from a year earlier, led by Lincoln's best January in more than 25 years.
Fiat Chrysler reported its best January since 2002, thanks to record sales of its Jeep and Ram truck brands. It retained the title of the best-selling automaker in Canada, with more than 18,000 vehicles moved.
