Canadian auto sales up 5.1% in October

Canadian consumers bought 163,053 new vehicles in October, with sales up 5.1 per cent from last year, according toDesRosiers Automotive Consultants.

Canadian auto sales are on track to top 1.9 million units in 2015, setting a new record and proving consumers are still willing to spend despitesomewhat slower economy. That would follow on record sales for 2014.

Once again, light trucks are the hot sellers, with more than 104,300 rolling off the lot in October.

Despite the scandal over a cheat device installed in its diesel engines, Volkswagen continues to do well in Canadian sales.

It sold 5,715 light vehicles in October, up 8.3 per cent from last year.

Brands enjoying double digit growth included Nissan, up 24.4 per cent, Infiniti, up 22.8 per cent, Honda,up 14.7 per cent and Volvo, up 12.3 per cent.

General Motors was the sales leader, selling 23,268 light cars and trucks, a 5.8 per cent improvement from last year.

Fiat Chrysler sales were ahead by 0.2 per cent at 22,384 vehicles with truck sales totalling 18,889 on strong numbers for Jeep and Ram.

Ford sales edged up 0.2 per cent to 22,080, while Toyota and Scion sold 4.2 per cent more at 16,891.

Despite somewhat lower gas prices, Canadians are still buying hybrids, Toyota said. In October, it sold 1,020 hybrids, a 9.3 per cent increase, including 605 Prius vehicles.