Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Canadians keen on fuel-efficient vehicles
Not only are they snapping up more compact and sub-compact models, such as the Mazda 3 and the Hyundai Accent, but new sales data for October show that intermediate-sized favourites the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord have fallen off the top sellers list.
While both of those industry giants were still among the Top 10 bestselling cars in July, by October both had been bumped from the list by two compact models -- the Volkswagon Jetta and the Ford Focus.
That left all 10 spots filled by compacts or subcompact models, according to figures compiled by Canadian auto industry consultant Dennis DesRosiers.
"Even with gas prices coming down to earth, small, entry-level vehicles continue to sell well, with sales up 6.4 per cent in October and up 9.6 per cent year-to-date," DesRosiers said in his latest automotive industry report.
"Subcompact and compact cars and compact SUVs are all up solidly this past month (October) as consumers appear unwilling to move to less fuel-efficient products, even with lower gas prices."
DesRosiers' report also shows that while new-vehicle sales have been plunging in the United States and parts of Canada, that hasn't been the case in Manitoba.
It was one of seven provinces to record a year-over-year increase in new vehicle sales in October -- 3,564 units compared with 3,516 in October 2007.
That's an increase of 48 units, or 1.4 per cent, and it left new-vehicle sales for the year running 4.3 per cent ahead of last year's pace after the first 10 months -- 39,917 units compared with 38,253.
Manitoba Motor Dealers Association president Bruce Giesbrecht said he's not surprised that new cars and trucks continue to sell well in Manitoba.
"I think there are two reasons -- the fuel efficiency and the prices," he said in an interview Monday.
"It's cheaper to buy a vehicle now than it was 11 years ago."
Concern for the environment is also playing a role, according to Ashok Dilawri, president of The Dilawri Group, with five new-vehicle dealerships in Winnipeg.
"People have become a lot more green-conscious in the last six months," Dilawri said, adding his dealerships can't keep up with the demand for environmentally-friendly hybrids such as the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic.
Giesbrecht said most Manitoba dealers he's talked to are continuing to hold their own in spite of all the economic uncertainty, and he's hopeful that trend will continue through to the end of the year.
The DesRosiers report shows Canadians' thirst for fuel-efficient vehicles isn't limited to just the new-car market. October's Top 10 list of bestselling light trucks, which includes trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles, also included three compact SUVs -- the Ford Escape, the Toyota Rav4 and the Honda CR-V -- and a small pick-up truck -- the Ford Ranger.
And that trend isn't going to change, DesRosier said, even in the face of further gas-price declines and generous buyer-incentive offers.
"You could put $15,000 in the boot (trunk) of a gas-guzzler and Canadians still wouldn't buy it," he said.
murray.mcneill@freepress.mb.ca
Compacts shuffle
Here is comparison of Canada's Top 10 best selling cars and trucks for July and October:
July 2008 October 2008
CARS
1. Honda Civic 1. Toyota Corolla
2. Toyota Corolla 2. Honda Civic
3. Mazda 3 3. Mazda 3
4. Toyota Yaris 4. Chevrolet Cobalt
5. Chevrolet Cobalt 5. Toyota Yaris
6. Hyundai Accent 6. Toyota Matrix
7. Toyota Camry 7. Hyundai Accent
8. Toyota Matrix 8. Pontiac G5
9. Pontiac G5 9. Volkswagon Jetta
10. Honda Accord 10. Ford Focus
TRUCKS
1. Ford F-Series 1. Ford F-Series
2. Dodge Ram 2. Dodge Ram
3. Chevrolet Silverado 3. Chevrolet Silverado
4. GMC Sierra 4. GMC Sierra
5. Dodge Caravan 5. Dodge Caravan
6. Ford Escape 6. Ford Escape
7. Ford Ranger 7. Toyota Rav4
8. Toyota Rav4 8. Ford Ranger
9. Honda CR-V 9. Honda CR-V
10. Pontiac Montana SV6 10. Hyundai Sante Fe
-- Source: DesRosiers Automotive Group
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 2, 2008 B4
-
WFP Hockey
Download our new hockey app for the iPhone for Winnipeg Jets updates
-
Editor's Bulletin
Sign up for daily bulletins from editor Margo Goodhand
-
Winnipeg Jets
All things NHL on our Jets landing page
-
Twitter
Follow our reporters and our news feeds on Twitter
-
News Cafe
Check out the menu, read our blog posts or get info on coming events
-
Facebook Fanpage
Follow our Facebook Fanpage for story links, contests and special events
Ads by Google
- Back to Top
- Return to Business
Poll
Most Popular
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- RCMP receptionist told Stobbe wife was dead
- Cabela's to open massive store just west of IKEA site
- RCMP receptionist told Stobbe wife dead
- Steinbach booms to No. 3 city in province
- Search is on for man seen leaving the scene where two Alberta Mounties were shot
- City family donates $1 million for endowed research chair in cardiology
- Should infants be allowed in the House of Commons?
- No comfort in trade talk: Veteran Thorburn says closely knit club well worth keeping together
- Province rules out reports of cougar in Transcona
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- Clothing chain pulls Caterpillar boots to protest closure of London, Ont., plant
- Three winning tickets sold for Friday's $50 million Lotto Max jackpot
- Woman's car stolen at gunpoint at St. Vital mall, police say
- Eleven people killed after truck hits van in southwestern Ontario
- Woman sexually assaulted during noon-hour in Exchange District
- 'This is so silly': Mom and Dad tell story of baby Zade, born on side of Highway 59
- Stobbe said slaying during shopping trip 'strange': sister-in-law
- Tactical squad storms St. Vital house
- Restaurant Dubrovnik may be closed for good
- Do you smoke marijuana?
- Driver dead after SUV goes over Disraeli Bridge
- George Clooney's prank could end Pitt's career
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- Tina Maze strips down to her sports bra to send out underwear message: 'Not your business'
- Clothing chain pulls Caterpillar boots to protest closure of London, Ont., plant
- Minor earthquake strikes near Manitoba
- Car's plunge off Disraeli fatal
- Two children, two women die in fire
- Kate Beckinsale's weight fears over Underworld catsuit
- Tassimo brewers and espresso packages recalled amid rupture, burn concerns
- Cabela's to open massive store just west of IKEA site
- Fighting fire with knowledge
- Original Joe's, Elephant & Castle expanding
- Pardon application fee to quadruple later this month despite complaints
- Harper driven by libertarian ideology, not reality
- OMG! Candy kings back at it
- Task force to review 2011 flood
- Flood reviews launched
- Steinbach booms to No. 3 city in province
- Tassimo brewers and espresso packages recalled amid rupture, burn concerns
- Swedish bunny's sheep herding skills becomes click-monster on YouTube
- League encourages hazing secrecy
- Cabela's to open massive store just west of IKEA site
- Harper driven by libertarian ideology, not reality
- Northern fishing lodge destroyed by fire
- Police target drivers talking on cellphones, texting
- Obama torn by conflicting allies
- 'This is so silly': Mom and Dad tell story of baby Zade, born on side of Highway 59
- Fighting fire with knowledge
- Minor earthquake strikes near Manitoba
- Paddler Starkell was modern-day voyageur
- Tassimo brewers and espresso packages recalled amid rupture, burn concerns
- Driver dead after SUV goes over Disraeli Bridge
- Car's plunge off Disraeli fatal
- Canadian woman 'badly injured' in Mexico, local media report apparent beating
- Winnipeg mother watches as car stolen with child inside
- Swedish bunny's sheep herding skills becomes click-monster on YouTube
- League encourages hazing secrecy
- The cost of calories: It's expensive to eat healthily
“See what happens when you let us drink inside town limits!”
Posted by: Phil4


You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.