Canada September/Q3 2022: “Detroit 3” only gainers in market down -4.5%, -11.8% over Q3

Chevrolet sales are up 35.5% over Q3 2022.

Estimates by DesRosiers Automotive have the Canadian new light vehicle market down -4.5% year-on-year in September to 130,421 units, the lowest September volume in 13 years: since 2009. The SAAR is down from 1.55 million a year ago to 1.48 million this month. Q3 volumes are down -11.8% to 387,435 and the year-to-date tally is also off -11.8% to 1,143,311. Light Trucks drop -7.9% over Q3 to 321,658 and  83% share vs. 79.5% in September 2021 whereas Passenger Cars fall -27% to just 65,777 and 17% share vs. 20.5% a year ago. Year-to-date, Light Trucks are off -8.8% to 953,686 and 83.4% share vs. 80.7% over the same period in 2021 and Passenger Cars skid -24.3% to 189,625 and 16.6% share vs. 19.3%.

In the groups ranking, strikingly the “Detroit 3” are the only year-on-year gainers over Q3. Let’s remember though that they were hit early last year by production troubles. Ford Motor is up 12.2%, General Motors is up 27.6% and Stellantis up 14.6%. In contrast, Toyota Motor is down -22.7%, Hyundai-Kia down -25.5% and Honda Canada off -37.1%. Brand-wise, Ford (+12.2%) is the faraway leader with over 68,000 sales, followed by Toyota (-23%) in trouble and Chevrolet (+35.5%) sporting a splendid uptick. Ram (+32.3%) and GMC (+27.9%) are the additional Top 10 gainers. Dodge (+74.4%), Cadillac (+38.1%), Alfa Romeo (+19.3%), Lincoln (+12.3%) and Genesis (+8.6%) also impress below.

Model-wise, as expected the Ford F-Series (+16.4%) easily keeps the lead with just under 34,000 sales over Q3. Almost 15,000 sales below is the Ram Pickup (+28.7%) with the Chevrolet Silverado (+26.7%) rounding out a podium 100% large pickups. The Toyota RAV4 (-7.4%) is relegated to fourth place ahead of the GMC Sierra (+19.8%). The Toyota Corolla (-11.7%) confirms it is now the best-selling Passenger Car in the country above the Honda Civic (-32.6%). If the Corolla keeps its advantage into the Full Year 2022 rankings it will be the first time in 25 years that the Civic isn’t the best-selling Passenger Car in Canada… All other Top 10 models are down with the Mada CX-5 (-1.6%) and Hyundai Elantra (-7.9%) beating the market but the Ford Escape (-26%) not that lucky.

Previous month: Canada August 2022: Sales off -13.9% to lowest since 1999

One year ago: Canada September 2021: Market falls -19.6%, Toyota Motor (+2.6%) takes control

Full Q3 2022 Top 15 groups, Top 43 brands and Top 265 models below.