Canada August 2016: F-Series tops monthly record, hits 100k units YTD

The new Super Duty variants should lift Ford F-Series sales even further up in the coming months.

* NOW UPDATED with the Top 15 groups, Top 35 brands and Top 265 models *

After dropping 3% in July, the Canadian new vehicle market confirms it may have peaked out with August deliveries down another 2% to 172.034 units. The year-to-date total however remains at all-time record levels for now, up 4% to 1.334.720. This means Canada is now America’s 2nd largest market below just the U.S. and above Brazil (1.303.987), a feat that would have seemed unimaginable just two years ago. The small sales decrease hides wild disparities among carmakers: if Ford Motor Co has now firmly reclaimed the reins of the Canadian market with sales up 9% to 28.982 and 16.8% share, its two rivals for the #1 spot are hitting the brakes: General Motors drops 9% to 22.547 and 13.1% but the most disturbing evolution is by FCA Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, down 20% to 21.627 and 12.6% as all the group’s brands fall heavily: Ram (-9%), Jeep (-18%), Dodge (-20%), Chrysler (-43%), Fiat (-59%), Alfa Romeo (-67%) and Maserati (-68%).

The Ford Escape is the best-selling SUV in Canada in August.

Brand-wise, Ford (+9%) is here too ultra-dominant at 16.4% share, widening the gap with Toyota at 9.6% (+3%), Honda at 9.2% (+2%), Hyundai at 7.8% (+3%) and Chevrolet at 7.4% (-8%). GMC drops 16% but gains 3 spots on July to #7, Volkswagen freefalls 23% to #13 but Lincoln (+10%), Mini (+12%), Acura (+15%), Volvo (+18%), Buick (+27%), Subaru (+35%), Jaguar (+72%) and most strikingly Smart (+327%) all post year-on-year gains ranging from robust to spectacular.

Subaru sales are up 35% in a market down 2%. 

In the models ranking, the Ford F-Series seems to be evolving in a world of its own: discarding the early warning signs that the Canadian market may be about to stabilise, sales of the country’s best-seller are up by an astounding 27% year-on-year to break a new monthly volume record at 14.197. This is the third time in 2016 that the F-Series has broken this record, after March (13.385) and April (13.957). Even more impressive, the F-Series now totals 100.015 units year-to-date, a 18% improvement on its previous best at this time of the year (84.490), established in 2014. The F-Series can now aim at 150.000 annual sales in Canada this year, with its previous records being 126.277 sales in 2014, 122.325 in 2013 and 106.358 in 2012.

In fact, the F-Series is the only nameplate in Canada history to have managed a six-digit annual figure, the closest to achieve this feat being the Ram Pickup at 91.195 in 2015. The F-Series has now achieved this figure five years in a row, and in just 8 months this year. It may seem logical that the market leader keeps beating records in a record market, however in the U.S., also at an all-time high volume in 2016, we have to go back 12 years to find the F-Series’ record volume (939.511 sales in 2004).

The Honda Civic resumes its domination of the passenger car segment.

In other model news, the Ram Pickup drops 8% in 2nd place, the Honda Civic (#3) reclaims the #1 passenger car spot in spite of a 15% decline vs. -3% for the Hyundai Elantra (#5), the Ford Escape soars 14% to #4 thanks to its facelift, leading the SUV segment above the Honda CR-V at #6 (+42%) and the Toyota RAV4 at #8 (+32%). Other impressive gainers in the Top 30 include the Hyundai Santa Fe (+42%), Mazda CX-5 (+21%), Hyundai Accent (+23%) and Jeep Grand Cherokee (+32%).

Previous month: Canada July 2016: F-Series propels Ford Motor Co back above FCA

One year ago: Canada August 2015: New Hyundai Tucson breaks into Top 20

Full August 2016 Top 15 groups, Top 35 brands and Top 265 models below.