Auto sales in Canada up 4.7% in July

Fuelled by incentive programs and a strong surge at Japanese automakers whose production was crippled after last year’s earthquake and tsunami, Canadian auto sales grew 4.7% this July from a year earlier.

Overall auto sales rose to 148,184 last month, compared to 141,472 in the year-earlier period, according to data from DesRosiers Automotive Consultants.

In total, Canadian automakers have sold 1,013,094 vehicles this year, which is up 6.7% from the 949,244 they sold by this time a year ago.

For the Big Three automakers – General Motors, Ford, and Daimler Chrylser – sales were up a very modest 0.4%.

Japanese automakers made strong gains in sales last month, compared to a year ago when they couldn’t supply enough models to showrooms after production was hurt by a March earthquake.

Toyota Canada Inc. says its sales were up 30% from last July. The automaker sold 15,819 Toyota, Lexus and Scion passenger cars, SUVs and trucks last month.

Meanwhile, Honda’s sales were up 27% from a year ago, with gains helped by record sales of the CR-B sport utility vehicle and the Acura RDX and TL. Combined sales by Honda and Acura in July totaled 11,184 vehicles.

However, Nissan Canada Inc. reported a sharp drop in July sales to 5,316, down 29.3% from a year ago when the company sold 7,523 vehicles.

Subaru’s sales shot up 23.3% compared to a year earlier, while Suzuki’s were up 9.8%,

Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd. also reported a strong month for sales, posting its best July in more than three decades as it laid claim to the title of the country’s top-selling automaker for the month. The automaker said it sold 27,940 vehicles last month, up 2.2% from 27,344 in July last year, marking the company’s best July since 1979. The gains were helped by sales of the Explorer and F-Series trucks that gained 18% and 20% respectively. Sales of crossover utility vehicles Edge and Flex also jumped 44% and 72%.

Chrysler Canada also posted its best July sales as it reported a 3% increase from a year ago.

The company said it sold 24,162 vehicles in the month, up from 23,385 a year ago, helped by strong sales of its Grand Caravan, Ram, and Wrangler vehicles.