Canadian vehicle sales up 7.1% in March 2017

Canadian car sales in March were up 7.1% from March 2016, at 187,540 units. SUV and pickup sales of 125,983 units were up 11.1%, while passenger car sales, at 61,557 units, were down 0.3% compared to last year.
Of the Detroit Big 3, GM was up 22.9% and FCA was up 2.6%, and Ford was up 0.2% from last March.
Most Japanese automakers had a strong March, with Honda brand up 18.7%, Toyota brand was up 0.1%, Nissan brand up 26.7%, Mazda up 14.8%, and Subaru up 10.4% year-over-year. However, Mitsubishi was down 10.6%.
Hyundai monthly sales were down 14.7%, and Kia sales were up 6.1% from March 2016.
Among German companies, Mercedes sales were up 11.9% and BMW brand was up 3.8%. VW brand sales were down 22.4% compared to the previous year, though Audi brand sales were up 6.4%.
Combined sales for the Big 3 were up 8.2%, while all foreign nameplates combined were up 6.1% in unit sales over March 2016.
(DesRosiers report from April 3, 2017)