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March 14, 2025NEW MOTOR VEHICLE SALES, JANUARY 2024 Year-over-year (January 2025 vs January 2024, unadjusted)
Compared with January 2024, Nova Scotia unit sales of new vehicles (+14.0%) reported a faster gain than the national average (+3.0%). Sales were up in all provinces except Québec and Prince Edward Island. Saskatchewan had the strongest growth in unit sales, followed by Manitoba.
The sales values of new vehicles increased 23.0% in Nova Scotia from January 2024 to January 2025, the fastest gain reported among provinces. National sales values were up 7.3% with gains in all provinces except Prince Edward Island.
Compared to January 2024, average unit prices were up 7.9% in Nova Scotia in January 2025. Average unit prices were up 4.2% nationally with increases in seven provinces. Québec and Nova Scotia reported the fastest year-over-year increases in new motor vehicle unit prices while New Brunswick had the largest decline.
The average price of a new vehicle in January was $51,766 in Nova Scotia - third lowest among provinces ahead of Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. Nationally, the average price of a new vehicle was $56,766 in January with the highest value in Alberta, followed closely by Saskatchewan.
Compared with January 2024, sales were up for all vehicle types. The increase was greatest for North American manufacturer sales values, and the sales values of Trucks/SUVs. North American manufacturers saw the greatest increase in unit sales, while overseas manufactures lagged North American in all categories of sales growth. Average sales prices were up for all vehicle types except passenger cars as unit sales outpaced sales value.
Starting with the January 2024 reference month, new data has been released on vehicle sales by fuel type. Zero emission vehicle unit sales were up 73.4% in January 2025 compared with January 2024, while sales values increased 165.2% and average unit prices increased 52.9%. Other fuel type vehicles saw unit sales increase 11.1% while sales values increased 14.1%, and the average unit price for other fuel type vehicles increased 2.7%.
In January 2025, trucks/SUVs accounted for 85.5% of unit sales and 89.4% of sales values. North American manufacturers accounted for 69.8% of Nova Scotia's unit sales and 73.6% of sales values in January 2025. Zero emission vehicles made up 7.2% of unit sales, and 12.7% of sales values, while all other fuel types accounted for 92.8% of unit sales and 87.3% of sales values.
Trends
Unit sales of new motor vehicles typically contract in January and remain lower during the winter months. Nova Scotia's unit sales of 3,433 in January 2025 were stronger than those reported in the same month of any year on record.
Increased unit sales and higher average prices have resulted in January 2025 motor vehicle sales above comparable months in previous years.
Nova Scotia average unit prices have returned to levels seen in the later months of 2024, after an increase in December of 2024.
Across Canada, national unit sales were up compared the same month in the previous year, and exceeded the previous peak set in January of 2018.
National sales values for January 2025 were higher than the same time in previous years.
National average unit sales prices have returned to levels seen in early 2024, despite gains made in November and December of last year. January 2025 average unit prices have increased above January 2023 prices, after a decline in January 2024.
There has been a steady trend of increasing market share for trucks/SUVs while the market share of passenger cars declines, although this trend has slowed in recent months.
There has been a slow decline in market share for North American manufacturers while overseas manufacturers' market share rises.
Prices for trucks/SUVs (the bulk of the market) continue to rise while prices for passenger cars have plateaued.
Prices for vehicles from all manufacturers declined in January after rising sharply in late 2024.
Source: Statistics Canada. Table 20-10-0001-01 New motor vehicle sales
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