Cold weather is being blamed for a 2 percent drop in Canadian new vehicle sales in February compared to the same period last year. Automakers sold a total of 123,342 units last month.
From coast to coast to coast, Canadians experienced an extra harsh dose of winter last month. A record amount of snow fell in Victoria while the wind chill fell to -50 Saskatoon. Cities from Windsor, Ont. east to Montreal dealt with multiple ice storms. Calgary and Toronto both contended with extreme cold warnings. All of it dampened auto sales.
“These results are not unexpected,” David Adams, president of Global Automakers of Canada (GAC), said of last month’s sales. “Both January and February last year were very strong months, so it was always going to be tough act to follow.
“Also, when you factor in the significant snow and weather events that have occurred over the month of February across the country, the results are actually pretty good.”
FCA displaced Ford as the sales leader for the month of February, selling 211 units more than Ford. By nameplate, the sales leaders in February were once again the Ford F-series pickup and the Honda Civic as Canada’s best selling vehicle and best-selling passenger car, respectively.
Trucks represented a record 75.1 percent of all sales in February as segment sales rose 1.2 percent while passenger car sales tanked 16 percent, according to GAC.
Here’s a look at how some of them fared:
RAV4 DRIVES TOYOTA SALES
Toyota Canada’s February sales rose 1.4 percent on the strength of its trucks and luxury brand when compared to the same month in 2018.
The automaker sold 13,149 vehicles last month. Truck sales were up 6.2 percent to 8,969 units on the back of RAV4 sales, which were up 28 percent to 3,838 units.
"Clear out of the 2018 RAV4 has gone smoothly and the new 2019 RAV4 has been very well received by our dealers and customers. We also look forward to a further lift as the new RAV4 hybrid joins the lineup in the coming weeks," Toyota Canada spokesman Michael Boulaine said in an email.
Lexus sales surged 26 percent to 1,448 vehicles with the NX and RX both up three percent.
However, car sales faltered. Toyota brand car sales were down 7.7 percent.
FCA SALES INCH DOWN
FCA Canada saw its sales dip slightly in February, down 2 percent to 18,461 vehicles sold.
The Dodge band was the only one of six to see its sales increase, up 23 percent as Durango sales nearly doubled to 958 units. Caravan minivan sales were up 12 percent to 2,889 vehicles.
Ram sales were essentially flat at 6,882 units, down just 1 percent. Ram pickup sales were down 4 percent to 6,394. ProMaster Van sales made up for the small decline, up 53 percent to 454 units.
Jeep brand saw its sales drop 11 percent to 5,835 vehicles. Wrangler sales were down 23 percent to 2,224 while Cherokee sales were off 17 percent to 1,152. Grand Cherokee rose 26 percent to 1,689.
HYUNDAI SALES SURGE
Hyundai Canada sales were up 16 percent in February as the still relatively new subcompact SUV, the Kona, saw 1,854 in sales. It outsold the popular midsize Tucson, which posted sales of 1,512.
The automaker sold 7,418 vehicles, including its luxury Genesis brand.
Kia Canada saw its sales rise 11 percent to 4,228 units.
The Forte led car sales with 885 units sold while the Sorento led the way for trucks at 1,355.
