Canada Q3 2024: Volkswagen (+59%), Mazda (+42.7%) highlight market up 3.5%

The Taos helps Volkswagen up 59% in September. 2025 model pictured.

According to local consultancy DesRosiers Automotive, the Canadian new light vehicle market is off -3.6% year-on-year in September to an estimated 157,000 units. Keep in mind September 2024 had 3 less selling days than September 2023. The SAAR stands at 1.78 million, stable compared to July and August. Q3 sales are estimated at 473,000 units (+3.5%) and the year-to-date tally is still up a solid 8.1% year-on-year to 1.41 million units.

Over Q3, General Motors (+8.7%) and Ford Motor (+5%) are the best-selling OEMs, distancing Toyota Motor (-8.4%) and Hyundai-Kia (-2.3%) both in decline. Note Ford Motor snaps the 2nd place YTD off Toyota Motor as a result. Nissan/Mitsubishi (+16.6%) and the Volkswagen Group (+32.7%) impress.

Brand-wise, Ford (+4.1%) remains firmly in the lead above Toyota (-8.7%), the only Top 6 carmaker in negative. Chevrolet (+6.9%) outpaces the market at #3 while Honda (+2.2%) and Hyundai (+0.8%) trail it slightly. Outstanding performance by Volkswagen soaring +59% year-on-year to rank #6 overall vs. #9 year-to-date. Mazda (+42.7%) and Nissan (+13.8%) also shine below, as do Buick (+102.9%), Lincoln (+52.3%), Mitsubishi (+23.4%) and Cadillac (+22.1%) further down.

The Ford F-Series edges up 1.2% year-on-year to dominate the models charts, selling twice as much as the #2, the Toyota RAV4 (-13%). The Honda CR-V (-3.4%) ends the period just 24 sales below its archenemy the RAV4 and ranks #3 vs. #6 over the Full Year 2023. The GMC Sierra (-0.3%) follows, having taken the advantage over the Ram Pickup (-26.1%) in complete freefall. The Chevrolet Silverado (+1.6%) makes it four pickups in the Top 6. The Mazda CX-5 (+29.8%), Nissan Rogue (+17.9%) and Chevrolet Equinox (+137%) surge ahead in the remainder of the Top 10. The Honda Civic (-1.6%) remains by far the best-selling passenger car in the country at #9 overall ahead of the Toyota Corolla (-32.6%) at #18.

Previous month: Canada August 2024: Mazda, Subaru shine, Honda CR-V above Toyota RAV4

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

Full Q3 2024 Top 15 groups, Top 46 brands and Top 302 models below.