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May 14, 2026NEW MOTOR VEHICLE SALES, MARCH 2026 Year-to-date (January-March 2026 vs January-March 2025)
Compared with January-March 2025, Nova Scotia unit sales of new vehicles declined 4.7%. National unit sales were down 4.7% with unit sales down in all provinces except Québec. The fastest decline was reported in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The sales values of new vehicles decreased 4.1% in Nova Scotia in January-March 2026. National sales values were down 3.3% with declines in all provinces except Québec.
Compared to January-March 2025, average unit prices were up 0.6% in Nova Scotia in the first three months of 2026. National average unit prices were up 1.5% with gains in all provinces led by Manitoba. Québec reported the smallest gain in average unit prices.
The average price of a new vehicle in the first three months of 2026 was $51,812 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 $57,380, with the highest value in Alberta.
Compared with January-March 2025, unit sales and sales values were down notably faster for passenger cars compared to other vehicle types. Average sales prices were up for all manufacturing types, except for North American manufacturers.
Zero emission vehicle unit sales were up 5.3% in the first three months of 2026 compared with the same period of 2025, while sales values fell 38.4% and average prices fell 41.5%. Other fuel type vehicles, which account for the majority of vehicles sold, saw unit sales decline 5.2% while sales values declined 0.1%, with average unit prices for other fuel type vehicles up 5.4%.
In January-March 2026, trucks/SUVs accounted for 87.8% of unit sales and 91.0% of sales values. North American manufacturers accounted for 68.3% of Nova Scotia's unit sales and 70.7% of sales values in January-March 2026. Zero emission vehicles made up 5.7% of unit sales, and 6.7% of sales values, while all other fuel types accounted for 94.3% of unit sales and 93.3% of sales values.
Year-over-year (March 2026 vs March 2025)
Compared with March 2025, Nova Scotia unit sales of new vehicles grew 0.9%, the only province to report gains in unit sales. National unit sales were down 6.6% with the fastest decline reported in Prince Edward Island.
The sales values of new vehicles increased 3.3% in Nova Scotia in March 2026. National sales values declined 3.6% with declines in all provinces except Nova Scotia and Québec. The fastest decline was in Prince Edward Island.
Compared to March 2025, average unit prices were up 2.3% in Nova Scotia in March 2026. National average unit prices were up 3.2% with gains in all provinces led by Manitoba. Ontario reported the smallest gain average unit prices.
The average price of a new vehicle in March 2026 was $51,526 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 $57,723, with the highest value in Alberta.
Compared with March 2025, unit sales and sales values declined only for North American manufactured vehicles. Overseas unit sales and sales values were up, with sales value outpacing unit sales. Average sales prices were up for all manufacturing types, with the fastest growth for overseas vehicles.
Zero emission vehicle unit sales were up in the March 2026 compared with March 2025, while sales values fell. There was a notable decline of 44.7% in average unit prices for zero emission vehicles. Other fuel type vehicles, which account for the majority of vehicles sold, saw unit sales decline and a growth in sales values, with average unit prices for other fuel type vehicles up 6.3%.
In March 2026, trucks/SUVs accounted for 87.2% of unit sales and 90.1% of sales values. North American manufacturers accounted for 67.6% of Nova Scotia's unit sales and 69.5.% of sales values in March 2026. Zero emission vehicles made up 6.9% of unit sales, and 8.0% of sales values, while all other fuel types accounted for 93.1% of unit sales and 92.0% of sales values.
Trends
Nova Scotia's unit sales of 5,109 in March 2026 was higher than the same month in previous years.
Sales value of $263.2 million was above the same month in previous years.
Average unit price in March 2026 was higher than in same month in 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 were up compared to March 2025 and 2024, while sales values were down compared to March 2025 but up compared to March 2024.
Across Canada, national unit sales were below the same month in 2025 and 2019, but above comparable months between 2020 and 2024.
National sales values for March 2026 were slightly lower than the value in March 2025, but above other comparable months in recent history.
March 2026 average unit prices were above any comparable month in recent history.
There has been a steady trend of increasing market share for trucks/SUVs while the market share of passenger cars declines. This trend has reversed 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.
The market share for new zero-emission vehicles peaked at the end of 2024 and has since declined until 2025. The market share for new zero-emission vehicles has been slowly growing since the second half of 2025, but has not reached previous peak.
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 small recovery in February and March following a sharp decline in January 2026.
Prices for vehicles from North American manufactures remain above average prices for overseas manufacturers.
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 remain below late 2024 and early 2025 levels. The low overall number of zero emission vehicles sold in Nova Scotia (352 in March 2026) can lead to volatility in prices.
Source: Statistics Canada. Table 20-10-0001-01 New motor vehicle sales
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