Canada Big-Truck Market Finishes Year With Modest Gains

Canada’s medium- and heavy-truck market slowed further in December, as daily sales slipped 1.5% from like-2011.

Though truck deliveries for full-2012 increased 1.2% over prior-year, December’s decline marked the third consecutive month of losses, WardsAuto data shows.

Combined Class 4-8 volume totaled 3,204 units in December, down from 3,514 in like-2011 and lower than 3,319 in November.

Class 7 suffered a 30.0% slide, the worst-performing of all segments in the month. Ford volumes plunged 82.0%, followed by Daimler’s 63.4% tumble. There were some bright spots, with PACCAR and International deliveries rising 19.5% and 5.0%, respectively.

Class 6 saw a 23.5% dip in volume, with Daimler tumbling 61% from like-2011. PACCAR deliveries fell 46.0%, while Ford and Hino posted gains.

Class 5 saw December’s greatest rise with 15.9% after slipping 6.4% prior-month. Ford and Chrysler’s gains helped offset losses by PACCAR, Hino, International and Isuzu.

Class 4 sales climbed 8.0% and Class 8 deliveries saw a 0.4% uptick in the month.

The year closed with 44,046 trucks produced, up from 38,234 in 2011. Most classes posted gains, led by Class 8’s 18.2%. Only Class 6 showed a decline, with a 12.2% loss in volume year-on-year.

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