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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Chrysler sales soar to make carmaker No.1 in Canada
TORONTO -- Chrysler models were again the bestselling vehicles in Canada in April as other big-name automakers reported slipping sales.
Automakers remarked on an ongoing trend in which consumers are shifting their choices from trucks to cars, hybrids and fuel-efficient vehicles amid rising gasoline prices.
Chrysler said it sold 24,540 vehicles in April, up three per cent from 23,837 in the same month in 2011. The numbers also represent Chrysler's 29th consecutive month in year-over-year sales growth.
The Detroit big-three automaker has been Canada's top-selling automaker in three out of the four opening months of the year.
"Our highly fuel efficient new product is definitely giving our sales results a shot of adrenalin. After four months, we are off to the best start we have had in a decade," said Dave Buckingham, chief operating officer at Chrysler Canada.
"To put the fuel-efficient new product lift into perspective, the Fiat 500 and Chrysler 200 alone combined for over 3,300 sales in April."
Chrysler's year-to-date sales of 80,363 were also the best start to a year since 2002, up nine per cent from 73,633 in the opening third of 2011.
Consumers in Central Canada recently saw gasoline prices spike and analysts say that's not the end. Prices are expected to push higher, to as much as $1.50 a litre before the summer.
That has consumers out shopping for more fuel efficient choices -- with Toyota reporting the best-ever month for Prius hybrid sales and Ford finding that consumers have begun to choose cars over their usually popular pickup trucks.
Still, top automakers, including Ford and Toyota saw year-over-year sales fall last month, which had two fewer selling days than April 2011.
-- The Canadian Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 2, 2012 B3
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