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March 16, 2026NEW MOTOR VEHICLE SALES, JANUARY 2026 Year-over-year (January 2026 - January 2025)
Compared with January 2025, Nova Scotia unit sales of new vehicles declined 13.3%, second fastest decline among provinces behind Newfoundland and Labrador, with national unit sales down 5.6%. Unit sales were down in all provinces except Prince Edward Island and Manitoba.
The sales values of new vehicles decreased 15.0% in Nova Scotia in January 2026, the second fastest decline among provinces just behind Newfoundland and Labrador. National sales values were down 6.1% with declines in all provinces except Prince Edward Island and Manitoba.
Compared to January 2025, average unit prices were down 1.9% in Nova Scotia in January 2025. National average unit prices were down 0.5% with gains in half of the provinces led by Prince Edward Island. Québec reported the largest decline in average unit prices.
The average price of a new vehicle in the first month of 2026 was $51,497 in Nova Scotia - second lowest among provinces ahead of Prince Edward Island . Nationally, the average price of a new vehicle was $56,930, with the highest value in Alberta.
Compared with January 2025, unit sales and sales values were down notably faster for passenger cars among other vehicle types. Average sales prices were down for all manufacturing types, except for overseas manufacturers.
Zero emission vehicle unit sales were down 52.3% in the first month of 2026 compared with January 2025, while sales values fell 66.2%. There was a 29.0% decline in average unit prices for zero emission vehicles. Other fuel type vehicles, which account for the majority of vehicles sold, saw unit sales decline 9.8% while sales values declined 6.7%, with average unit prices for other fuel type vehicles up 3.4%.
In January 2026, trucks/SUVs accounted for 88.4% of unit sales and 91.8% of sales values. North American manufacturers accounted for 68.6% of Nova Scotia's unit sales and 71.2.% of sales values in January 2026. Zero emission vehicles made up 4.5% of unit sales, and 5.5% of sales values, while all other fuel types accounted for 95.5% of unit sales and 94.5% of sales values.
Trends
Nova Scotia's unit sales of 2,918 in January 2026 was slightly lower than the same month in 2025 and 2024, but above the same month in previous years.
Sales value of $150.3 million was below the same month in 2025, but above the same month in previous years.
Nova Scotia average unit prices are generally lower in January compared to prices in December. Average unit price in January 2026 was lower than same month a year ago, but remained elevated compared to previous years.
Zero-emission vehicles are currently a small share of the new motor vehicle market in Nova Scotia. Due to the small number of vehicles sold, there can be volatility in the year-over-year or year-to-date comparisons for unit sales, sales value and average prices. Nova Scotia zero-emission vehicle unit sales and sales values were down compared to January 2025 and 2024.
Across Canada, national unit sales were below the same month in 2025 and 2024, but above any comparable month since 2019.
National sales values for January 2026 were below the values from January 2025, but above other comparable months in recent history.
January 2026 average unit prices were down from January 2026 but remain above any comparable month prior to that.
There has been a steady trend of increasing market share for trucks/SUVs while the market share of passenger cars declines. This trend has become less volatile in recent months.
Over the last twenty years, there has been a slow decline in market share for North American manufacturers while overseas manufacturers' market share has risen. In recent months, market shares for North American manufacturers have declined while shares for overseas manufactures have increased.
The market share for new zero-emission vehicles peaked at the end of 2024 and has since declined
Prices for trucks/SUVs (the bulk of the market) have fallen from their recent peaks at the end of 2024. Prices for passenger cars posted a sharp decline in January 2026 after a rebound in December 2025.
Prices for vehicles from North American as well as overseas manufacturers have declined in January 2026 after rebounding in December 2025.
Average prices for zero-emission vehicles rose sharply in late 2024 and subsequently fell below previous levels by July 2025. Average price for zero-emission vehicles has been slowly growing since, but remains below late 2024 and early 2025 levels. The low overall number of zero emission vehicles sold in Nova Scotia (132 in January 2026) can lead to volatility in prices.
Source: Statistics Canada. Table 20-10-0001-01 New motor vehicle sales
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