Canada Sales Soar 38.1% in March

Two months after losing the throne, Ford was back as Canada’s top-seller, helped by industry light-vehicle sales that soared 38.1% on a daily selling rate basis to 157,166 units from February’s 106,443.

Although Canada’s March deliveries saw a 2.6% gain on prior-year’s 153,119 units, an extra selling day this year resulted in the DSR falling 1.1% behind.

Chrysler Canada, which relinquished its crown after a 2-month reign as sales leader, nevertheless was the only North American brand to best both its prior month and year-ago performances by 22.8% and 4.5%, respectively.

However, Chrysler did retain the year-to-date lead by slightly more than 1,300 units.

With help from rising gasoline prices, Canada’s March car deliveries jumped 42.6%, compared with prior month, topping year-ago by 3.2%. Light-truck sales climbed 23.8%, compared with February but trailed like-2011 by 4.4%.

First-quarter LV sales rose to 360,961 units from 333,283, with cars up 15.1% and light trucks posting a 3.5% gain.

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