Canada August 2018: Ford F-Series shines in 6th monthly market decline

The Ford F-Series is one of only 4 nameplates in the Top 20 to post a double-digit gain.

* See the Top 15 groups, Top 37 brands and Top 265 models by clicking on the title *

It’s not getting any better for Canadian new light vehicle sales, down for the 6th consecutive month and for the 8th time in the past 10 months at -1.5% to 181.560 units, such a long negative stretch had not yet happened this decade. The year-to-date volume edges now down 0.6% to 1.399.099. If this decline is maintained until the end of the year, 2018 would be the first year since 2010 that light vehicle sales drop year-on-year in Canada. According to local consultancy Desrosiers whose figures are slightly lower due to the absence of some luxury brands such as Tesla, light trucks are back in positive in August at +2.6% to 128.100 registrations and 70.8% share vs. 67.9% in August 2017 whereas passenger cars continue to freefall at -10.6% to just 52.842 and 29.2% share vs. 32.1% a year ago. Year-to-date, light trucks gain 3.2% to 977.695 and 70.2% share vs. 67.5% over the same period in 2017 and passenger cars dive 9.2% to 415.241 and 29.8% share vs. 32.5%.

Jeep Cherokee sales are up 27% year-on-year in August.

Ford Motor (+7.1%) remains the most popular group in the country, distancing General Motors (-10.1%) in great difficulty like in neighbouring U.S. with Hyundai-Kia (+5.2%) once again rounding out the podium. Toyota Motor (+2%), Honda Motor (+1.5%), Nissan Motor (+3.6%), the BMW Group (+7.9%) and Jaguar Land Rover (+3%) in order of ranking all post solid performances in contrast with FCA (-9.3%), the Volkswagen Group (-16.6%) and Daimler AG (-20.5%). Brand-wise, Ford (+7.2%), Toyota (+2.5%) and Honda (+0.3%) compose a podium 100% positive ahead of Chevrolet (-9.7%) with Mitsubishi (+17.8%), Acura (+13.1%), Hyundai (+9.3%) and BMW (+8.2%) posting the largest gains in the Top 20 and Volkswagen (-22.2%), Mercedes (-20.5%), Dodge (-17.1%), GMC (-12.6%) and Ram (-8.7%) enduring the largest drops. Genesis (+236.4%), Tesla (+71.4%) and Volvo (+44.6%) shine further down.

The Nissan Qashqai is up 31%. Picture motortrend.com

In the models aisle, the Ford F-Series (+10%) blissfully ignores the market slump, the only nameplate in the Top 14 to manage a double-digit gain, scoring its 4th largest monthly volume in history at 15.438, only beaten by tallies from May 2018 (16.039), June 2017 (15.660) and September 2016 (15.659). The Honda Civic (+3%), Ram Pickup (-11%), GMC Sierra (-20%) and Chevrolet Silverado (-27%) complete the Top 5 with all full-size pickups in great difficulty. Notable performers in the remainder of the Top 20 include the Nissan Qashqai (+31%), Jeep Cherokee (+27%), Hyundai Santa Fe (+17%) and Honda CR-V (+8%) just as the Toyota RAV4 (+4%) snaps the title of best-selling SUV in August. The Hyundai Kona (#28) remains by far the most popular recent launch (<12 months), distancing the Nissan Kicks (#63), Ford Ecosport (#74), Tesla Model 3 (#86), Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross (#100) and Subaru Ascent (#109).

Previous month: Canada July 2018: Hyundai-Kia soars, FCA freefalls in market down 3.5%

One year ago: Canada August 2017: GM up 28.5%, VW up 72% in record market

Full August 2018 Top 15 groups, Top 37 brands and Top 265 models below.