Canadian auto sales boom in July

RICHMOND HILL, Ont. — 2017 continues to grow at a rapid pace in the auto industry. According to DesRosiers Automotive Consultants, in the month of July Canadian auto sales set a new record, in what has been a banner year for the industry.

The consulting firm says vehicle sales for the month totalled 181,834, including 58,231 cars and 123,603 light trucks, topping the previous record for the month set in 2015.

That result was 4.9 per cent higher than total sales of 173,304 in July last year, including 59,225 cars and 114,079 light trucks.

July is the third record-setting month in a row, and sixth for the year, with only April falling short of setting a new high.

DesRosiers says it’s a contrast to the United States, where sales figures have declined for five months in a row in year-over-year comparisons.

Ford was the top-selling brand at 27,650 vehicles sold, despite a 7.1 per cent sales drop from last year, while General Motors narrowed the leader’s gap thanks to a 21.6 per cent climb in sales to 25,852 autos sold.