On the provincial level, the new light vehicle sales performance remained varied for May 2023 despite the generally positive lean in the market, according to DesRosiers Automotive Consultants (DAC).
“While the market has begun to demonstrate broad-based improvements in new vehicle supply at the brand level, the distribution of vehicles regionally continues to be uneven, with provinces both well ahead and well behind the market average,” said Andrew King, Managing Partner at DAC, in a statement.
The standout on the “well ahead” list was Newfoundland with an estimated sales increase of 28.6% over May 2022. Others that outperformed the national average were Prince Edward Island, British Columbia, Alberta, and Québec, which had estimated increases of 19.6%, 16.4%, 15.4%, and 14.7%, respectively.
Ontario was up 13.4% — near the national average, while New Brunswick managed a small increase of 1.5% in comparison and Manitoba experienced a decline of 1.2%.
“Year-to-date, performance was similarly varied, ranging from an estimated 12.0% increase in Newfoundland to a minor 0.9% decrease in Saskatchewan,” said DAC in its provincial sales update. “Overall, May 2023 saw estimated new light vehicle sales among reporting manufacturers reach 159,705 units sold, an increase of 13.5% and the seventh consecutive month of increases.”
Year-to-date, new light vehicle sales have increased 6.4% above 2022 results.
