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July 04, 2025NEW VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS, Q1 2025 Statistics Canada now reports Nova Scotia results for new motor vehicle registrations. Data are reported for all provinces except Newfoundland and Labrador and Alberta.
In Q1 2025, there were 10,187 new vehicles registered in Nova Scotia. Gasoline-fuelled vehicles represent the majority of all new vehicle registrations in Nova Scotia (75.8%) as well as nationally (73.1%). Hybrid electric vehicles were the next most commonly-registered new vehicles in Q1 2025 accounting for 12.9% of registrations in Nova Scotia (12.6% nationally). Diesel-fuelled (4.9%), battery electric (3.4%) and plug-in hybrid electric (3.1%) accounted for the remaining vehicle registrations in Nova Scotia.
Across Canada, battery electric vehicle registrations were notably more common in Québec and British Columbia while diesel-fuelled vehicle registrations were more common in Saskatchewan as well as Prince Edward Island.
Across Nova Scotia, gasoline-fuelled vehicles were the majority of registrations in all areas in Q1 2025. Gasoline-fuelled vehicle registrations were more prevalent in the Cape Breton regional municipality while battery electric vehicles were more commonly registered in Halifax and Kentville. Diesel-fuelled vehicles were more commonly-registered in New Glasgow and Truro as well as in rural areas outside Census Agglomerations and the Halifax Census Metropolitan Area.
Trends
Vehicle registrations exhibit seasonal patterns, with Q1 registrations falling below other quarters for most engine and body types.
Gasoline-fuelled vehicle registrations have declined and remain below levels from before 2020. However, there has been a small rise in registration of new gasoline-fuelled vehicles in the last two years.
Hybrid electric vehicle registrations have risen sharply in the last two years - making them the second most common type vehicle propulsion.
Diesel-fuelled vehicles have reported higher registrations in the last 4 quarters, but remain less than half the number of hybrid electric registrations.
Battery electric vehicle registrations have risen sharply in the last 3 years, overtaking registrations of plug-in hybrids.
Multi-purpose vehicles such as sport-utility vehicles remain by far the most commonly-registered new vehicles in Nova Scotia, particularly in the last year.
Pickup truck registrations were up somewhat in the last year.
Registration of new passenger cars remains substantially lower than it was prior to 2020.
Although registration of new vans declined sharply in 2022-2024, there has been an increase in Q1 2025.
Source: Statistics Canada. Table 20-10-0025-01 New motor vehicle registrations, quarterly, by geographic level
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