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June 14, 2018NEW MOTOR VEHICLE SALES, JANUARY-APRIL 2018 
From Jan-Apr 2018, Nova Scotia New Motor Vehicles sales values decreased 6.6 per cent compared with the first four months of 2018. National sales values were up 5.9 per cent over this period. Sales values were down in all Atlantic provinces as well as in Saskatchewan. There was notably faster growth in the value of new motor vehicle sales in Manitoba and Ontario.
Unit sales of new motor vehicles are down 5.1 per cent in Nova Scotia, comparing the first four months of 2018 with the same period in 2017. National unit sales were up 0.8 per cent, with stronger growth in Manitoba. All Atlantic Provinces as well as Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia reported lower unit sales of motor vehicles YTD in 2018.
Prices for new motor vehicle sales are up in most provinces, with national average unit prices rising 5.0 per cent through the first four months of the year when compared with the same period in 2017. Prices were down in Nova Scotia and Manitoba.
Average unit prices per new motor vehicle sales in Nova Scotia were $35,972 in the first four months of 2018. Nova Scotia has relatively low average unit prices compared with other provinces. The national average unit price was $41,761 and the highest average unit prices were $45,950, reported in Alberta.
In 2017, there had been a large rise in the number of trucks and sport utility vehicles sold in Nova Scotia. Through the first four months of 2018, this has reversed, with passenger car sales values rising and truck/SUV sales values in decline. Unit sales are down for both, but more so for trucks/SUVs, which make up 74 per cent of motor vehicle sales values and 65 per cent of units.
The effect of declining truck/SUV sales has a disproportionate impact on Nova Scotia's overall sales value because these vehicles have a higher transaction price: $40,870 for trucks/SUVs versus $26,830 for passenger cars.
By country of manufacture, Nova Scotia's new motor vehicle sales decline is concentrated among North Amercian manufacturers while overseas manufacturers (who account for just 21 per cent of sales values) reported sales value growth of over 11.2 per cent.
Statistics Canada. Table 20-10-0001-01 New motor vehicle sales
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