Canada November 2019: FCA (+9.7%), Hyundai-Kia (+6.1%) can’t prevent 20th decline in 21 months (-0.8%)

Hyundai sales gain 5.1% in Canada in November.

The Canadian new light vehicle market remains stable in November (-0.8%) at an estimated 144.476 registrations, an encouraging sign that nevertheless marks the 20th year-on-year drop in the past 21 months. The year-to-date tally is now down -3.3% to 1.819.018 and with only one month to go, annual sales are now certain to fall below the symbolic 2-million mark for the first time since 2016. However given Canada sales had been evolving at record levels in the past few years, 2019 should still feature among the four largest annual volumes in Canadian history. According to local consultancy Desrosiers, there’s no respite for passenger cars (-18.6%) imploding again to 31.774 units and just 22.1% share vs. 27.2% in November 2018 whereas light trucks soar 6.9% to 143.666 and 77.9% of the Canadian market vs. 72.8% a year ago, smashing their all-time share record and eclipsing the previous best of 76.8% established last August. Year-to-date, passenger cars drop -15.8% to 462.322 and 25.6% vs. 29.3% in 2018 and light trucks gain 1.6% to 1.342.904 and 74.4% vs. 70.7%. As we have done for the past few months in the US, we have combined industry estimates for overall FCA and GM August sales and are sharing our exclusive monthly estimates for all FCA and GM brands and models.

Group-wise, Ford Motor (-1.6%) and Toyota Motor (+1.9%) both overtake last month’s leader General Motors (-4.5%) with Hyundai-Kia (+6.1%) in tow and FCA (+9.7%) posting the largest gain in the Top 10 to return to #5. Honda Motor (+0.1%) is knocked down to #6 while Nissan/Mitsubishi (-7%) struggles like in the US. Daimler AG (+9.3%) also shines but the BMW Group (-15.1%), Jaguar Land Rover (-8.2%) and the VW Group (-2.6%) all underperform. The brands ranking podium is unchanged on October and year-to-date with Ford (-1.1%) Toyota (+0.1%) and Honda (-3.1%) but Hyundai (+5.1%) and Chevrolet (-1.1%) are close behind. Kia (+8.6%) and Ram (+6.5%) score the largest gains in the Top 10 but GMC (-10.5%) and Nissan (-10.4%) falter. Further down, Volvo (+46.3%), Acura (+31.7%), Dodge (+26.4%), Mitsubishi (+20.3%) and Lexus (+17.3%) stand out.

Over in the models ranking, the Ford F-Series (+3.3%) distances the Ram Pickup (+8.4%) and Toyota RAV4 (+19.4%) as is also the case year-to-date, with the Honda CR-V (+2.4%) sticking to the #4 spot for the second straight month ahead of the Chevrolet Silverado (+8.3%), GMC Sierra (-2%) and Hyundai Elantra (+26.8%) posting the largest gain in the Top 13 at #7. Below, the Nissan Kicks (+301%), Jeep Wrangler (+94.7%), Hyundai Kona (+91.9%), Subaru Outback (+50.1%), VW Golf (+45.3%), Dodge Grand Caravan (+38.2%), Kia Sportage (+30.9%), Mazda CX-5 (+25.6%), Ford Transit (+25.3%), Subaru Crosstrek (+18.8%) and Toyota Highlander (+18.2%) post the biggest upticks in the remainder of the Top 30, proving the SUV craze is here to stay in Canada. The Jeep Gladiator (#73) is estimated to be the best-selling new launch just above the Hyundai Palisade (#75), Ford Ranger (#84) and Mercedes A-Class (#99).

Previous month: Canada October 2019: Jeep (+12%), Kia (+11%), Honda (+7.8%) headline 19th drop in past 20 months (-0.6%)

One year ago: Canada November 2018: Toyota (+11.5%) defies longest negative streak this decade – market down for 9th straight month

Full November 219 Top 15 groups, Top 40 All-brands and Top 280 All-models below.