The Economics and Statistics Division maintains archives of previous publications for accountability purposes, but makes no updates to keep these documents current with the latest data revisions from Statistics Canada. As a result, information in older documents may not be accurate. Please exercise caution when referring to older documents. For the latest information and historical data, please contact the individual listed to the right.
<--- Return to Archive
For additional information relating to this article, please contact:
June 14, 2021NEW MOTOR VEHICLE SALES, APRIL 2021 With April reference month results, year-over-year (Apr 2021 vs Apr 2020) and year-to-date (Jan-Apr21 vs Jan-Apr20) show rebounds in economic activity from the unprecedented declines observed in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Year-to-date (Jan-Apr 2021 vs Jan-Apr 2020, unadjusted)
In the first 4 months of 2021, Nova Scotia new motor vehicle unit sales increased 60.6%. The 15,058 new motor vehicles sold in Jan-Apr 2021 represent a sales value of $614.6 million, up 63.0% over Jan-Apr 2020 (unit sales: 9,377 with a value of $377.0 million). Nova Scotians new motor vehicle dealers sold 15,311 units in the Jan-Apr period of 2019 with a value of $577.0 million
In Canada new motor vehicles unit sales increased 42.9%. The 551,991 new motor vehicles sold in Jan-Apr 2021 represent a sales value of $26.1 billion, up 47.8% over Jan-Apr 2020 (unit sales: 386,406 with a value of $17.6 billion). Canadian new motor vehicle dealers sole 661,065 units in the Jan-Apr period of 2019 with a value of $26.5 billion.
Year-to-date unit sales and sales values rebounded in all provinces with the largest gains in Atlantic Canada and Quebec. Unit sales and sales values increased less in Ontario and western provinces.
Year-over-year (Apr 2021 vs Apr 2020, unadjusted)
Comparing April 2021 with the most severe impacts of the pandemic's first wave observed in April 2020, Nova Scotia unit sales of new vehicles increased 196.8% while national unit sales were up 250.9%. Sales values increased 187.5% in Nova Scotia and 242.3% nationally.
The extent to which new motor vehicle sales have recovered may be better assessed by comparing with April 2019. Nova Scotia new motor vehicle unit sales were 4,847 in April 2021, down 1.8% from April 2019; sales values were up 5.3% over this time. National unit sales were down 10.6% in April 2021, compared to April 2019, while sales values were down 2.9%.
Unit sales and sales values rebounded sharply between April 2020 and April 2021 - rising in all provinces. The largest gains were in Quebec while the four western provinces reported the least gains.
Compared against April 2019, April 2021 unit sales were up only in Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Manitoba. Sales values (April 2021 vs April 2019) were up for all Atlantic Provinces as well as Quebec, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
Average Prices (Jan-Apr 2021 vs Jan-Apr 2020)
In Nova Scotia, the average price of a new motor vehicle was $40,813, up 1.5% from the first four months of 2020. National average motor vehicle prices were $47,198, up 3.5%. Price growth was positive for all provinces except New Brunswick. The largest rise was observed in Manitoba. Nova Scotia has the lowest average unit price of new motor vehicle sales while Alberta has the highest.
In Nova Scotia, average unit prices for all motor vehicles was $40,813. Trucks/SUV averaged $43,288 and passenger cars averaged $30,661.
Passenger Cars and Trucks/SUVs (Jan-Apr 2021 vs Jan-Apr 2020)
In the first four months of 2021, Nova Scotia unit sales of truck/SUVs (80.4% of unit sales) increased 66.8%. Unit sales of passenger cars increased 39.3%.
Sales value of truck/SUVs (85.3% of sales value) increased 65.7%. Sales value of passenger cars increased 49.0%.
Country of Manufacture (Jan-Apr 2021 vs Jan-Apr 2020)
In the first four months of 2021, Nova Scotia unit sales of North American manufactured new motor vehicles (71.2% of unit sales) increased 52.0%. Unit sales of overseas manufacturers increased 86.7%.
Nova Scotia sales value of North American manufactured new motor vehicles (74.4% of sales value) increased 54.8%. Sales value of overseas manufacturers increased 92.9%.
Source: Statistics Canada. Table 20-10-0001-01 New motor vehicle sales
<--- Return to Archive
