Nissan, Chrysler Sales Surge in Canada

Nissan and Chrysler recorded year-over-year Canadian-market daily sales rate spikes of 40.2% and 26.8%, respectively, the largest of any volume auto makers in June, according to Ward’s data.

The performances outpaced the industry’s 6.2% growth for the month, compared with like-2010, as market stalwarts Honda and Toyota suffered nosedives of 19.4% and 28.5%.

Nissan Altima’s 3,394 deliveries nearly tripled like-2010’s tally.

Related document: Ward’s Canada Light Vehicle Sales by Brand and Company June 2011

Ford was the volume leader with 32,866 sales, for an overall uptick of 4.9%. Its 32% surge in car deliveries mitigated a 3.8% dip in truck demand and contributed to a market-leading share of 20.1%.

Ford also was the market leader through first-half 2011. Its 138,274 vehicle sales translate to a 17.2% share.

North American sales by Japan-based auto makers have been hampered by inventory woes related to the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in their home nation.

The situation, which spawned a ripple effect on the global supply chain, apparently has not hurt Hyundai’s Canadian sales. With deliveries up 16.8% in June, compared with prior-year, the Korea-based company notched its second consecutive month as the top-performing Asia-based auto maker with an 8.2% share of the Canadian market.

Nissan’s June results were well in the black on both the car and truck sides. The auto maker’s truck sales jumped 12%, compared with like-2010, while its car deliveries soared 61.1% on the strength of 3,394 Altima deliveries, which nearly tripled prior-year’s tally.

Despite the strong results posted by Nissan and Hyundai, all Asia-based auto makers saw their claim on the market sink to 39.5% and 40.9%, respectively, for June and the first six months of the year.

Detroit auto makers were the primary beneficiaries of this trend, garnering 51.4% of the Canadian market in June, compared with prior-year’s 48.7%.

Chrysler recorded the largest gain on a percentage basis. Its 28.2% jump was the mirror image of Nissan’s, with an 11.9% hike in car deliveries and a 30.7% climb in light-truck sales.

General Motors saw an 8.7% hike for the month.

Except for low-volume Jaguar, all European brands were in positive sales territory for the month. Jaguar deliveries plunged 20%.

Still, Europe-based auto makers recorded a lesser share of the market in June than they did in like-2010 – 9.1% from 10.4%.

Volkswagen, the group’s volume leader, saw flat sales on 4,530 deliveries, compared with prior-year’s 4,479, according to Ward’s data, which is adjusted for selling days.

Through June, Canada’s light-vehicle sales were tracking 2.6% ahead of like-2010.

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