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:
February 14, 2022NEW MOTOR VEHICLE SALES, DECEMBER AND ANNUAL 2021 With December reference month results, year-over-year (December 2021 vs December 2020) and annual (2021 vs. 2020) growth rates show rebounds in economic activity from the unprecedented declines observed in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
ANNUAL (2021 vs. 2020, unadjusted)
In 2021, Nova Scotia new motor vehicle unit sales increased 11.8%. The 44,699 new motor vehicles sold had a sales value of $1.90 billion, up 18.8% over 2020.
National new motor vehicles unit sales increased 5.3%. The 1,676,516 new motor vehicles sold in 2021 represent a sales value of $79.94 billion, up 11.2% over 2020.
Unit sales were up in all provinces with the largest increases in Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, and with smallest increases in Ontario and Saskatchewan.
Sales values were up in all provinces with the largest increases in Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. The smallest increases were in Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador.
In 2021, growth in unit sales and sales values were both faster for trucks/SUVs than for passenger cars. Unit sales and sales values grew more quickly for overseas manufacturers than for North American manufacturers.
After growing for several years, trucks/SUVs accounted for 78.9% of Nova Scotia's unit sales of new motor vehicles (2021) and 84.6% of sales values. Passenger cars accounted for 21.1% of unit sales and 15.4% of sales value.
The share of Nova Scotia's new vehicle sales accounted for by North American manufacturers has been falling slowly. North American manufacturers accounted for 71.9% of Nova Scotia's new motor vehicles unit sales (2021) and 75.1% of sales values. Overseas manufacturers accounted for 28.1% of unit sales and 24.9% of sales value.
Comparison with pre-COVID period (2021 vs 2019, unadjusted)
Comparing 2021 results with 2019 (prior to the COVID-19 pandemic), Nova Scotia's new motor vehicle unit sales were down 12.7% while sales values were down 4.2%. Nationally, unit sales were down 15.3% while sales values were down 7.3%. Unit sales were down in all provinces compared with 2019. Prince Edward Island was the only province to report higher motor vehicle sales values in 2021 than 2019. Unit sales and sales values were furthest away from pre-COVID levels in Ontario.
Compared with 2019, Nova Scotia new motor vehicle unit sales were down more for passenger cars than for trucks and SUVs; unit sales were down more for North American manufacturers than for overseas manufacturers. Sales values were down for passenger cars as well as for North American manufacturers. Sales values were up slightly (+1.6%) for trucks/SUVs as well as for overseas manufacturers (+0.1%).
Year-over-year (December 2021 vs December 2020, unadjusted)
Nova Scotia's unit sales of new motor vehicles declined 9.6% year-over-year. Sales values were up 7.2% because of a 18.6% year-over-year increase in average unit prices of vehicles sold in Nova Scotia.
National unit sales were down 8.8% with declines in all provinces. National new motor vehicle sales values were up 3.0% with increases in 8 of 10 provinces. The largest declines (in both unit sales and sales value) were observed in New Brunswick. Quebec reported the smallest decline in unit sales while the largest gain in sales values.
Average Prices (2021 vs. 2020)
The average sale price of a new motor vehicle in Nova Scotia was up 6.2% in 2021. National average prices were up 5.6% with increases in all provinces.
Average new motor vehicle sale prices were $42,404 (2021) in Nova Scotia. National average prices for a new motor vehicle were $47,680; the highest average prices were reported in Alberta and the lowest in Prince Edward Island.
In 2021, average prices were notably higher for trucks/SUVs than for passenger cars. Average prices were also higher for North American manufacturers than for overseas manufacturers.
Source: Statistics Canada. Table 20-10-0001-01 New motor vehicle sales
<--- Return to Archive
