Canada Q3 2023: Nissan, Kia, Honda stand out in market up 21.5%

Nissan sales are up 36.8% year-on-year over Q3.

According to estimates by local consultancy DesRosiers Automotive, the Canadian new light vehicle market is up 19% year-on-year in September to 155,259 units, with a year-ago volume particularly weak as it was the lowest September result since 2009. The SAAR is up from 1.48 million in September 2022 to 1.77 million this month. Not including Ford which now reports annually, Q3 sales are up 21.5% to 393,156, leading to a year-to-date tally up 13.2% to 1,106,638. 

Again without Ford Motor in the ranking, over Q3 General Motors (+12.4%) takes the lead of the groups charts with just under 70,000 sales. It is followed by Toyota Motor (+20.4%) and Hyundai-Kia (+23.2%). Stellantis (-0.5%) is actually down over the Quarter whereas Nissan/Mitsubishi (+58.1%) and Honda Canada (+31.7%) both shine. The VW Group (+16.1%) is a little shy as is the BMW Group (+16.1%) while JLR (+30.6%) impresses.

In the brands ranking, Toyota (+20.1%) matches the market and distances a soft Chevrolet (+12.9%). Honda (+33.4%) takes the third spot ahead of Hyundai (+16.9%) and GMC (+19.5%) both slightly below the market growth. Nissan (+36.8%) and Kia (+35%) post the largest gains in the Top 10 with Mazda (+13.3%) and Volkswagen (+7.9%) underperforming and Ram (-5.8%) in negative. Below, notice Tesla up an estimated 91.8%, Mitsubishi (+155.8%), Audi (+42.4%), Dodge (+56.1%) and Land Rover (+38.1%).

Model-wise, in the absence of the Ford F-Series, the Ram Pickup (-2.4%) takes the lead despite a year-on-year loss. The Toyota RAV4 (+30.3%) and most strikingly the Honda CR-V (+171.9%) are getting closer though, respectively 711 and 2,523 units below the Ram. The GMC Sierra (+27.5%) and Chevrolet Silverado (-8.5%) are both down one spot on their year-to-date rankings and round out the Top 5. The Toyota Corolla (-24%) remains the best-selling passenger car in the market above the Honda Civic (-7.1%). The Hyundai Tucson (+36.9%), Tesla Model Y (+250%) and Nissan Rogue (+31.1%) make waves in the remainder of the Top 10.

Previous month: Canada August 2023: Kia (+63.2%) stands out, 10th consecutive month of sales growth

One year ago: Canada September/Q3 2023: Detroit 3 only gainers in market down -4.5%, -11.8% over Q3

Full Q3 2023 Top 15 groups, Top 42 brands and Top 275 models below.