Auto sales hit record as baby boomers treat themselves to ‘nice vehicles’
TORONTO — Canadians bought vehicles in record numbers last year, driven by consumers who bought SUVs, pickup trucks and high-end models such as Jaguars and Porsches, DesRosiers Automotive Consultants said Wednesday.
Overall, there were 1.948 million sales of light vehicles last year, an increase of 2.7 per cent compared to 2015, the Richmond Hill, Ont.-based consulting firm said.
Ford took the top spot last year, with sales up 9.3 per cent to 304,445 vehicles. Fiat Chrysler was next, though its sales slipped by 5.3 per cent year-over-year to 277,445 vehicles, followed by General Motors with 267,341 vehicles sold, up 1.5 per cent.
Some of the most dramatic gains in sales were by luxury automakers, a trend that consulting firm president Dennis DesRosiers attributes to demand from baby boomers with disposable income.