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June 11, 2026NEW VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS, Q1 2026 Statistics Canada reports Nova Scotia results for new motor vehicle registrations. Data are reported for all provinces except Newfoundland and Labrador and Alberta.
In Q1 2026, there were 9,416 new vehicles registered in Nova Scotia, down 7.6% from Q1 2025. Among fuel types, gasoline powered vehicles were the most common with 7,224 registrations - more than 3 times the number of other fuel types registered (diesel, battery electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid). Among body types, multi-purpose vehicles (including sport-utility vehicles) were by far the most common in Q1 2026 with 6,155 registrations.
Registrations were down for all fuel types except for hybrid electric, led by diesel and plug-in hybrids. Among body types, registrations were down for all body types except vans in Nova Scotia from Q1 2025 to Q1 2026.
In Q1 2026, 76.7% of Nova Scotia's vehicle registrations were for gasoline-fuelled vehicles. Nationally, gasoline-fuelled vehicles were 71.3% of registrations in Q1 2026. British Columbia and Québec had the lowest shares of gasoline-fuelled vehicles among Q1 2026 registrations. Hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery electric vehicles were more commonly registered in British Columbia. Diesel vehicles were a larger share of registrations in Saskatchewan.
Across Nova Scotia, gasoline-fuelled vehicles were the majority of registrations in all areas in Q1 2026. Gasoline-fuelled vehicle registrations were most prevalent in Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) followed by Truro. Battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles were more commonly registered in Kentville while hybrid electric were more commonly registered in Halifax and CBRM. Diesel-fuelled vehicles were more commonly-registered in New Glasgow.
Trends
Vehicle registrations exhibit seasonal patterns, with Q1 registrations typically falling compared to the quarter before for most engine and body types.
Although they are still the most commonly-registered fuel type in Nova Scotia, gasoline-fuelled vehicle registrations have declined and remain below levels from before 2021. However, there has been a small rise in Q1 registration of new gasoline-fuelled vehicles since 2022.
Hybrid electric vehicle registrations have risen sharply in the last two years - making them the second most common type vehicle propulsion registered in Nova Scotia in Q1 2026.
Diesel-fuelled vehicles have reported higher registrations since 2023, but remain substantially less than the number of hybrid electric registrations.
Battery electric vehicle registrations accelerated sharply from 2021 to 2024, but declined (year-over-year) in the last four quarters.
Plug in hybrid registrations fell in Q1 2026 compared to the year prior, but remained above 2023 levels.
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 declined year-over-year in the most recent quarter.
Registration of new passenger cars remains substantially lower than it was prior to 2020, with a decline year-over-year in Q1 2026.
Registration of new vans declined 2022 and 2023, and has been rising since.
Source: Statistics Canada. Table 20-10-0025-01 New motor vehicle registrations, quarterly, by geographic level
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