February auto sales drop 0.2 per cent amid trade, economic volatility: DesRosiers

By: The Canadian Press Posted:

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RICHMOND HILL - DesRosiers Automotive Consultants Inc. says February auto sales were relatively flat from a year ago despite trade and economic headwinds.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/03/2026 (220 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

RICHMOND HILL – DesRosiers Automotive Consultants Inc. says February auto sales were relatively flat from a year ago despite trade and economic headwinds.

The firm estimates 122,000 vehicles were sold in February, down 0.2 per cent from last year.

DesRosiers says the month still delivered a solid performance despite a slight drop, given the trade environment, inclement weather and economic slowdown.

New cars, left, are parked at a car dealership on Friday October 11, 2024 in Quebec City.. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
New cars, left, are parked at a car dealership on Friday October 11, 2024 in Quebec City.. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

Last month, the federal government also announced a slew of changes to its electric vehicle program — offering a rebate for EVs, scrapping the EV mandate, which required all new cars to be electric by 2035, and replacing it with greenhouse gas emission standards.

DesRosiers managing partner Andrew King says details of the new targets remain sparse.

He thinks Canada needs to chart its own course on zero-emissions vehicles, rather than copying the U.S., which he thinks has taken a “backward” approach.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 4, 2026.

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