With the precipitous fall in new light-vehicle sales in March 2020, it was always likely that March 2021 would show a significant sales increase across Canada.

Overall, an estimated 175,186 units were sold, up 86.2% from March 2020 when 94,061 units were sold.

All provinces recorded large sales increases for the month and most recorded large sales increases for the first quarter as well.

The largest increases for the month were noted in the Eastern portion of the country with Quebec up an estimated 164.9%, PEI at 148.6%, Nova Scotia at 118.7%, and New Brunswick at 111.2%.

The lowest increase was noted in Ontario, with new light-vehicle sales up “just” 53.1% the month.

In the first quarter, Ontario was the sole province not to record a double-digit sales increase, rising only 1.6% over the first quarter of 2020.

“For much of last year, it was Ontario’s comparatively slow climb back to stability that held back the market recovery” commented DAC “This trend continued into the first quarter of 2021, with Ontario lagging significantly behind the rest of the country.”

With the third wave of the pandemic and varying restrictions from coast to coast to coast, the picture is far from clear as to future regional performance during the key spring selling season.

Provincial Sales