Vehicle sales increase in March, expected to fall in April: StatsCan

OTTAWA – There were 135,261 new vehicles sold in March, two per cent more than in February.

Statistics Canada reports car and truck sales both increased, led by stronger sales of North American-built cars.

The agency says preliminary industry data indicate April sales were down one per cent.

Car sales rose 2.7 per cent in March, their second straight month of gains.

Sales of North American-built cars accounted for the increase, rising 8.9 per cent, while sales of overseas-built cars declined seven per cent to their lowest point in six years.

Sales of trucks (which include minivans, sport-utility vehicles, light and heavy trucks, vans and buses) increased 1.4 per cent to 75,583 in March, more than offsetting February’s losses.

The number of new motor vehicles sold increased in eight provinces in March, led by Alberta and Ontario, where they rose 4.2 per cent and 1.4 per cent respectively.

New Brunswick (up 13.5 per cent) reported the largest percentage sales increase in March.

Sales edged down in British Columbia and the Territories (dropping 0.2 per cent), as well as in Newfoundland and Labrador (down 0.3).