Wheels weren't rolling off the lot as fast, or as often, in this country last month, according to figures released Friday morning.
Automotive sales in Canada fell 7.2% in June from a year earlier due largely to a drop-in passenger car sales.
June was the 16th consecutive month of automotive sales declines in Canada. The country’s auto sales fell 185,741 units in June from 200,156 units sold a year earlier, according to a report by DesRosiers Automotive Consultants, a market research firm that tracks the sector.
The majority of automakers reported a fall in passenger car sales as consumers shift to larger sport utility vehicles (SUVs). Sales of passenger cars in Canada fell 21.3% in June, according to DesRosiers.
Sales for Ford Motor Company, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler Canada were down 4.5% overall with the three brands jointly performing better than the rest of the manufacturers in Canada.
General Motors, which reports sales on a quarterly basis, said total sales in Canada for the second quarter fell 13.7% to 77,643 units. Toyota Canada sold 22,769 vehicles in June, down 2.2% from a year-ago. Among major auto firms, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV reported a 4% fall in total June auto sales in Canada.
The company, which is one of the top carmakers in the country, sold 21,566 vehicles in June, with its Chrysler brand reporting a 30% fall in Canadian sales.
