Those cars and trucks just rolled off Canadian lots in record numbers, according to one of the auto industry's most influential observers
Market research firm DesRosiers Automotive Consultants says Canada is on track for yet another year of record-high sales, and light trucks — a category that includes pickups, Sport Utility Vehicles, minivans and crossovers — are behind this momentum.
The firm says Canadians bought 989,177 new vehicles in the first six months of this year, up 6% from the same period last year, when they purchased 933,439 vehicles.
Experts say cheap credit and economic strength in Ontario, British Columbia-- and to some extent, Quebec -- are helping boost sales.
DesRosiers says sales of passenger cars slipped 6.8% to 346,584, but light trucks more than picked up the slack.
Canadians bought 642,593 new light trucks in the first six months of the year, an increase of 14.5% over last year.
