Undoubtedly, the automotive industry is a big one in Canada. Every year, Canadians buy millions of cars and trucks. Therefore, the car sales statistics Canada are important to both automakers and consumers.
They offer insight into which models sell well, what types of vehicles people buy, and how the market is changing. These statistics can help automakers determine what new models to produce and whether they should offer incentives on certain cars.
Consumers can use this information to decide when the best time is to buy a car and compare different makes and models. So, keep reading and find out everything.
Noteworthy Car Sales Statistics Canada (Editor’s Choice)
- China was the leading auto market in terms of sales in 2020.
- The auto industry in Canada produced 1.1 million motor vehicles in 2021.
- In 2021, Honda sold 131,254 units in Canada.
- The leading brand in car sales in Canada in 2021 was Ford.
- In 2022, 612,103 cars were sold until May in Canada.
- BMW sold the highest number of units in December of 2020.
- Canada sold 330,593 cars in the first quarter of 2022.
- In 2021, Canada sold about 1.6 million vehicles.
Global Car Sales Statistics
In the last three years, 2019 showed the highest number of vehicles sold. Moreover, China remains the largest car market worldwide.
1. In 2020, China was the largest car market in terms of sales.
(Statista)
That year, China sold approximately 19.8 million vehicles. However, the COVID-19 pandemic took its toll in February 2020, when monthly auto sales dramatically fell in China. Then, due to effective containment measures, the market showed recovery signs in April.
2. Online car sales statistics uncover that the online car retail market is expected to rise to 6 billion units by 2025.
(Statista)
As the world grows increasingly digital, it’s no surprise that even the car industry is moving online. Alibaba, the world’s largest online and mobile commerce company, is planning a major push into the auto industry, spearheading the trend from retail to e-tail.
3. In 2021, global car sales rose to about 66.7 million cars, according to car sales statistics.
(Statista)
That represented an increase from 2020 when 63.8 million units were sold. Then again, from 2019 to 2021, 2019 was the year with the highest number of sold units. In other words, there were sales of 74.9 million vehicles globally.
4. In 2021, Europe sold approximately 11.8 million vehicles.
(Best-Selling Cars)
That equated to a slight decrease from the year before and a substantial decline from 2019. More specifically, Europe sold almost 12 million vehicles in 2020, while the number of cars sold in 2019 was 15.8 million.
5. Used car sales statistics for 2021 reveal that, compared to 2020, used car sales increased by 11.5% in the UK.
(Auto Car)
That year, around 7.5 million used cars were sold in the UK. In comparison, the UK sold 6.7 million vehicles in 2020.
Then again, the numbers from 2021 were still 5.5% below the pre-pandemic five-year average. In the UK, the best-selling used car in 2021 was the Ford Fiesta.
Automobile Industry in Canada
The Canadian automotive industry is one of the country’s most important manufacturing sectors and an important source of exports.
6. 2020 saw a 30% decline in the number of employees in Canada’s car manufacturing industry compared to 2019.
(Statista)
In fact, employment in this industry started falling dramatically in early 2020 in Canada. May and June saw the lowest number of car industry employees. In detail, there were only around 30,000 new jobs in this industry in June 2020.
7. In Canada, retail sales of used car dealers reached nearly $11.6 billion in 2020.
(Statista)
However, used car sales in Canada statistics point out that eight years before that, sales totaled only $6 billion. As we can see, between 2012 and 2020, used car retail sales almost doubled.
In Canada, retail sales of used car dealerships are vital to the economy. They provide vehicles for Canadians who might not otherwise be able to afford a new car and create jobs for Canadians working in the automotive industry.
8. There were more than 3,200 franchised automobile and truck dealerships in Canada in 2021.
(Cube Toronto)
In addition, if you want to know how many used car dealerships operated in Canada in 2021, the answer is approximately 8,000. That year, there were more than 3,000 used car dealerships in Ontario.
9. In 2021, the Canadian car industry produced around 1.1 million motor vehicles.
(Statista)
That represented a 19% decrease from 2020. Furthermore, 2020 also saw a decline from the year before. More specifically, compared to 2019, there was a 25% drop in 2020 in terms of vehicle production.
10. Canada’s car market size, measured by revenue, is $11.9 billion.
(IBIS World)
In 2022, this market is expected to increase by 11% compared to 2021. As a matter of fact, the Canadian auto market size, measured in revenue, was $10.7 billion in 2021. Moreover, the market reached $9.8 billion in 2020.
However, the highest point for this market in the last three years was reached in 2019. In detail, the Canadian auto market size, measured in revenue, was $14.9 billion.
Car Sales Canada Statistics by Brand
Ford showed the best results in terms of auto sales in Canada last year. However, several other car brands also had excellent performance.
11. In 2021, Ford was the leading brand in car sales in Canada.
(Statista)
That year, the brand sold 236,928 units, showing a rise from the previous year. In fact, Ford sold 232,194 units in 2020. Furthermore, Toyota took second place regarding car sales in Canada in 2021. Namely, car sales stats indicate that Toyota sold 198,664 units. In comparison, Toyota was the leading car brand in the US regarding sales.
12. Honda sold around 131,254 units in Canada in 2021.
(Statista)
One of the most reliable car brands in Canada, Honda ranked third in terms of car sales in Canada that year. In comparison, the brand sold fewer vehicles than in the previous year, when there were sales of somewhere around 146,582 units.
13. As per monthly car sales statistics for Canada, December was the best month in 2020 for car sales for BMW.
(GoodCarBadCar)
That month, the brand sold 2,691 units. June and July were also successful months for BMW, as the brand sold 2,502 and 2,550 units, respectively. All in all, BMW sold around 25,435 units in 2020.
14. In the first half of 2021, Chevrolet showed a 30% increase in car sales compared to the same period of 2020.
(Driving)
This brand sold 64,966 units in the first half of 2021. What’s important to note is that Chevrolet keeps pace with the market due to its significant gains from its EV and small crossover—Trailblazer and Bolt.
Car Sales Statistics From 2021 and 2022
There were sales of more than 1.5 million vehicles in 2021. Moreover, the second quarter had the highest number of these sales.
15. In Canada, around 1.6 million vehicles were sold in 2021.
(MarkLines)
That translated to a rise of around 6.6% compared to the year before. Let’s break that down into quarters. For example, car sales Canada statistics disclose that in the first quarter of 2021, 378,730 units were sold.
The second quarter was better, with 478,717 vehicle sales. In the third quarter of 2021, there were sales of 439,166 units. Finally, the last quarter showed the lowest sales—341,786.
In comparison, the US sold 14.9 million cars in 2021.
16. In 2021, the month with the highest vehicle sales was March.
(MarkLines)
That month, 175,186 units were sold. Furthermore, monthly car sales statistics from 2021 show that the second month in terms of car sales in Canada was June 2021, when 162,501 units were sold.
17. In the first quarter of 2022, 330,593 vehicles were sold in Canada.
(MarkLines)
When we look at this number by month, we can see that March saw the highest number of car sales. In fact, 140,460 units were sold in Canada that month, while February saw 98,722 such sales. Moreover, Canada sold only 91,411 vehicles in January. Ford stands strong, with 1 out of every 13 vehicles sold in Canada being a full-size Ford pickup.
18. As per new car sales statistics, new motor vehicle sales increased by 0.9% in 2021 compared to 2020.
(150 StatCan)
In fact, 1.6 million new car vehicles were sold in 2021. In dollar terms, new motor car sales rose by 6.8%. However, compared to 2019, new motor car sales declined in both sales (-11%) and units (-18.9%) in 2021.
19. In the first seven months of 2021, 120,800 vehicles were sold in Alberta.
(Driving)
Alberta car sales statistics reveal an increase of 23% compared to pre-pandemic sales. However, Prince Edward Island showed the highest growth before the pandemic. In other words, there was a rise of 42% in car sales in 2021 compared to 2019.
20. Up until May, 612,103 vehicles were sold in Canada in 2022.
(MarkLines)
More specifically, 140,785 units were sold in April of this year. As a matter of fact, between January and May 2022, April was the month with the highest number of sales. Then again, compared to April 2021, sales were down by 13.3%.
Summary of Car Sales Statistics Canada
As we’ve seen from last year’s data, car sales in Canada are rising. There are plenty of great options on the market, so start your search today.
As the Canadian car market continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these trends keep developing. For now, it seems that cars are here to stay, but their dominance may change in the future.
People Also Ask
Are car sales down in Canada?
It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic caused a sharp decline in auto sales in Canada in 2020. However, things are starting to look up for the country.
In 2021, Canadian auto sales increased by 6.6% compared to the year before, reaching a total of 1.6 million vehicles. This is a significant rebound from the previous year, indicating that the automotive industry is recovering.
What is the most sold car in Canada?
Ford was the leading brand in terms of car sales in Canada in 2021, as it sold 236,928 units and showed a rise from the previous year. In fact, Ford sold 232,194 units in 2020.
All in all, the brand remains popular among consumers and is likely to continue to be a leading player in the Canadian market.
What percentage of people own a car in Canada?
A study recently found that most Canadians own or want to own a car. For instance, 84% of respondents said they already owned a car, while 9% said they would like to own one in the future. Car ownership is the lowest among those between 18 and 34, but this group is also the most interested in owning a car.
How are car sales doing in Canada?
Due to COVID-19, there was a dramatic decrease in car sales in Canada in 2020. So, many people thought trends wouldn’t change for the better. However, they did.
Namely, the car sales statistics Canada reveal that Canadian car sales increased by 6.6% in 2021, compared to the year before when they had reached 1.6 million vehicle sales. This is a considerable rebound from 2020, meaning that the car industry is on the road to recovery.
