New motor vehicle sales increased 2.6% to 128,663 units in December. This gain brought sales back to September's level after fluctuating in October and November. Higher sales of North American-built passenger cars were responsible for most of the increase.
Monthly sales averaged around 124,000 units in 2009, whereas the monthly average in 2008 was approximately 140,000 units.
Preliminary industry data indicate that the number of new motor vehicles sold was relatively unchanged in January.
The number of new passenger cars sold in December increased 2.5% to 64,568 units. Sales of North American-built passenger cars rose 5.1%, partially offsetting November's decline. The number of overseas-built passenger cars sold decreased by 1.0%. While sales of North American-built passenger cars have been on a slightly upward trend since the spring of 2009, the level of overseas-built passenger car sales has been stable.
Sales of new trucks (which include minivans, sport-utility vehicles, light and heavy trucks, vans and buses) increased 2.7% to 64,095 units in December, partially offsetting November's decrease.
After declining in every province in November, the number of new motor vehicles sold increased in nine provinces in December. The largest contribution to the increase came from Quebec (+2.7%), one of two provinces (along with Prince Edward Island) where December's rise offset November's decrease.
The only decline in December was registered in the region composed of British Columbia and the territories (-1.9%). Sales in this region increased in nine out of 12 months in 2009.
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