01-05-2007, 07:20 AM
Canadian vehicle sales up 2 percent in 2006
January 4,2007
Richmond Hill, Ontario - A gain in the second half of 2006, along with a 7.3 percent sales jump in December, resulting in Canadian car sales that were 2 per cent higher in 2006 than in 2005, according to industry analyst Dennis DesRosiers.
"The industry, what you might say, 'shot the lights out' in the last half of 2006 and managed to turn what looked like a relatively bad sales year, midway through the year, into a slightly positive performance once the year was completed," DesRosiers says. "Sales for 2006 finished at 1,614,700 units compared to 1,583,291 units in 2005. This is the second best sales year on record in Canada."
DesRosiers credits a strong dollar, and "unbelievable economic performance" in the resource- and energy-rich provinces, including Alberta, Saskatchewan, B.C. and Newfoundland. DesRosiers also notes that record all-time sales were marked by Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota/Lexus, Honda/Acura, Hyundai, Mazda and BMW, which was up for the 16th consecutive year.
January 4,2007
Richmond Hill, Ontario - A gain in the second half of 2006, along with a 7.3 percent sales jump in December, resulting in Canadian car sales that were 2 per cent higher in 2006 than in 2005, according to industry analyst Dennis DesRosiers.
"The industry, what you might say, 'shot the lights out' in the last half of 2006 and managed to turn what looked like a relatively bad sales year, midway through the year, into a slightly positive performance once the year was completed," DesRosiers says. "Sales for 2006 finished at 1,614,700 units compared to 1,583,291 units in 2005. This is the second best sales year on record in Canada."
DesRosiers credits a strong dollar, and "unbelievable economic performance" in the resource- and energy-rich provinces, including Alberta, Saskatchewan, B.C. and Newfoundland. DesRosiers also notes that record all-time sales were marked by Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota/Lexus, Honda/Acura, Hyundai, Mazda and BMW, which was up for the 16th consecutive year.