Sales gains continue in March & 1st Quarter

Overall, March sales of light duty vehicles came in at near record pre-recession levels, rising modestly 2.8% to 157,750 units compared to March 2011. The gain was driven by demand for passenger cars, as sales rose 6.5% to 73,645 units, while light truck sales dipped 0.3% to 84,105 units in March.

Results were up for Japanese brands in March, gaining 2.3% to 53,593 units on a combined basis. Sales of passenger cars edged up 0.5% to 30,961 units, while light truck deliveries improved 4.9% to 22,632 units.

Among JAMA Canada members, Mazda Canada was the growth leader with sales up 34.4% to 7,779 units. Nissan Canada sales were up 10.1% in March, while Mitsubishi Motor Sales Canada and Subaru Canada were up with single digit gains. At the same time, Honda truck sales rose 11.5% and Toyota car sales improved 13.4% compared to March 2011.

1st Q 2012:

While the first two months were notable for double digit gains in Canada, sales improved in March but at lower rate, with the result that first quarter sales were ahead by 8.4% over 2011 to 361,959 units in the first quarter of 2012. Passenger cars sales rose 14.8% in the 1stQ to 161,085, while light truck sales increased 3.9% to 200,874 units.

Japanese brand light vehicle sales gained 13.7% to 122,385 units through the end of March as passenger car sales rose 17.2% to 70,051 units and light truck sales improved 9.4% to 52,334 units. Honda, Toyota, Mazda and Nissan were all up with double digit gains, while Subaru and Mitsubishi had single digit increases compared to the first quarter of 2011. Market share of JAMA Canada members stands at 33.8%, up from 32.2% in 2011.

Sales - March 2012

Source: AIAMC / JAMA Canada members

JAMA Canada wholeheartedly supports the launch of formal negotiations between the Government of Canada and the Government of Japan towards a comprehensive economic partnership agreement announced today in Tokyo.
 
“This announcement, which follows the release of the Joint Study a few weeks ago, is a very welcome development for our members in Canada, particularly as the Canadian Government pursues free trade negotiations with South Korea and the European Union, both significant auto producing and exporting jurisdictions”, said David Worts, Executive Director of JAMA Canada.
 
“Moreover, we support a Canada-Japan EPA to deepen our bilateral commercial relations, and to create collaborative opportunities between Canadian and Japanese business in Asia and around the world”, added Mr. Worts.

For many years, JAMA Canada has been a strong advocate of liberalized trade and open borders, particularly as the auto industry in Canada continues to depend heavily on trade along with local and global supply chains.

Since 1993, Canada has been a net exporter of Japanese brand vehicles. Last year, exports of vehicles made in Canada were more than triple the number of imports from Japan. And while two out of every three Japanese vehicles sold in Canada are now made in North America, there is still a need to import vehicles from Japan to meet the varied transportation needs of Canadian consumers.

Finally, a bilateral trade agreement with Japan would help to maintain and grow employment.  Open trade would sustain a positive environment for over 67,000 Canadians employed directly or indirectly in the manufacture, export, import, distribution, sale or service of Japanese brand vehicles in Canada.

JAMA Canada is a non-profit trade association with eight members representing subsidiaries of Japanese automakers in Canada, and was established in 1984 to promote greater understanding in trade and economic matters between Canada and Japan.

JAMA Canada applauds the continuing collaboration in auto-related research and development between the Federal Government, the auto industry in Canada and Canadian universities for projects supported by Automotive Partnership Canada.
 
“This announcement today in support of six new projects focused on developing new technologies in light materials and enhancing battery efficiency in motor vehicles is an encouraging sign that collaborative R&D initiatives continue to be an important part of maintaining competitiveness in an increasingly global industry”, said David Worts, Executive Director of JAMA Canada.
 
“Quite simply, a growing number of countries are actively developing advanced technologies for motor vehicles.  Collaborative research can play a critical role to help maintain an economically vibrant, environmentally friendly and globally competitive auto industry in Canada”, added Mr. Worts.
 
JAMA Canada is a non-profit trade association representing subsidiaries of Japanese automakers in Canada, and was established in 1984 to promote greater understanding in trade and economic matters between Canada and Japan.

Japanese brand sales continue to climb for 4th month in a row

Sales of light vehicles in Canada remained strong in February, up 11.2% to 106,712 units, the best month since 2008 and the second consecutive month tracking above 1.7 million annualized sales in Canada. Passenger car sales gained 17.1% to 46,285 units, while light trucks rose 7.0% to 60,427 units in February compared to 2011.

All JAMA Canada members sales in February were in positive territory, and all but two members reported double digit growth. Combined Japanese brand sales rose 18.8% in February to 36,284 units. Suzuki Canada was the growth leader, up 32.1%, followed by Toyota up 30.6% in February. Subaru and Mitsubishi reported single digit gains of 7.8% and 1.4% respectively. Honda, Mazda and Nissan were in between with sales gains of 13.8%, 13.6% and 17.3% respectively.

YTD Results:

Overall, the market in Canada has grown 13.1% for the YTD to 204,209 units of light duty vehicles. Passengers cars have led the recovery, rising 22.2% to 87,440 units, as light trucks improved 7.2% to 116,769 units.

With four consecutive months of robust demand, Japanese brand sales in Canada have risen 24.5% in the first two months of 2012 to 68,792 units. While all JAMA Canada members are in positive territory, three members have double digit gains (Honda: +52.3%; Toyota: +24.4%; Nissan: +20.0%) over 2011. All other members have improved with single digit gains.

Sales of Japanese brand passenger cars jumped 35.0% to 39,090 units, while light truck sales improved 13.0% to 29,702 units compared to last year. Market share for Japanese brands rose as a result to 33.7% from 30.6% in the first two months of 2011.

Sales - February 2012

Source: AIAMC /JAMA Canada members

Sales accelerated in January

New vehicle sales in Canada hit the accelerator in January, rising 15.4% to 97,497 units for all brands -- the best January results since 2008. Passenger car sales soared 28.4% to 41,155 units, while light trucks gained 7.4% to 56,342 units compared to January 2011.

Japanese automakers as a group outperformed the market as sales jumped 31.6% to 32,508 light vehicles. Car sales rose 43.4% to 18,730 units, while light trucks improved 18.5% to 13,778 units. Sales of vehicles built in North America soared 44.7% to 21,727 units, while imports from Japan rose 11.4% to 10,781 units.

Market share of Japanese brands gained over 4 points to 33.3% from 29.2% in January 2011. All but one JAMA Canada members were in positive territory, led by Honda Canada with a gain of 126.9%, more than doubling their sales from last year. Nissan Canada and Toyota Canada were both up in double digits, 23.4% and 17.8% respectively and setting records for the month. Mazda Canada, Subaru Canada and Mitsubishi Motor Sales Canada recorded single digit gains.

Sales - January 2012

Source: AIAMC / JAMA Canada members

Japanese brand sales up 10.2% in December

December:

Light vehicle sales in Canada grew 2.8% in December to 114,557 cars and light trucks, the third consecutive modest monthly gain. While passenger car sales were relatively flat, up marginally 0.2% to 45,985 units, light truck sales rose 4.2% to 68,572 units continuing the gains seen throughout 2011 as consumer demand has shifted in favour of light trucks, particularly ’cross-over’ vehicles.

December was an important month for Japanese automakers looking for concrete signs of a growing recovery from the natural disasters in Japan and Thailand, building on the 9.7% sales improvement in the previous month. While sales were mixed overall, as a group JAMA Canada members’ light vehicle sales jumped 10.2% in December to 41,358 units, representing a 36.1% share of the market.

Among individual companies, Toyota, Nissan and Mitsubishi were all ahead with double digit gains, while Subaru was up in single digit territory -- Toyota Canada sales were up 41.5%, Nissan Canada up 32.9%, Mitsubishi up 18.6% and Subaru up 6.2% compared to December 2010. Japanese brand passenger car sales rose 6.8% in December, while sales of light trucks jumped 14.9% YOY.

YTD 2011:

The light market in Canada rose a modest 1.8% in 2011 to 1,585,519 units, up almost 28,400 units over 2010. However, market demand in 2011 clearly shifted towards light trucks reflected in both market share and sales increases. Light truck sales grew 4.7% to 891,784 units, while passenger car sales slipped 1.6% to 693,735 units. The light truck share rose to 56.2% in 2011.

Japanese brand light vehicle sales fell 7.3% to 492,354 units in 2011 as automakers struggled to recover from the disasters in Japan and Thailand. Passenger car sales dropped 12.9% to 283,783 units, while light truck sales rose 1.6% to 208,571 units.

Individual company results were mixed – both Mitsubishi and Nissan were up over last year, 5.2% and 2.0% respectively. Sales of vehicles built in North America and Japan were down (7.1% and 7.8% respectively), however sales of trucks built in Japan rose 13.3% due to rising import Japan truck sales at Mazda, Nissan and Mitsubishi. In terms of market share, Japanese share was 31.1% in 2011, down from 34.1% in 2010 and 37.8% in 2009.

Sales - December 2011

Source: AIAMC / JAMA Canada members