Auto Sales Dip in Canada

Carmakers sold 156,700 cars and light trucks in Canada in March compared with a record 157,000 units a year earlier, according to DesRosiers Automotive Consultants Inc.

The country's passenger car market shrank 5% to 70,200 vehicles last month. But light truck demand grew 3% to 86,500 units.

Ford Motor took the sales lead in Canada last month with a 2% increase to 25,100 vehicles. Chrysler Group trailed by 1,000 units despite its 7% year over year advance. Volume dropped 11% to 20,200 units at General Motors, producing a slight dip in March deliveries of U.S. brands.

Canadian demand for import marques in March also declined less than 1% to 87,300 vehicles. Major Asian makes posted losses, including Toyota (-6% to 15,100 units), Honda (-1% to 12,800 units) Hyundai (-5% to 12,000 units) and Nissan (-13% to 7,400 units). Mazda sales rose 5% to 8,200 vehicles.

Sales of luxury vehicles jumped. Acura sales nearly doubled to 1,700 units. Brands such as BMW, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche all posted double-digit gains.