Comments on: Canadian New Car Sales Surge 9%

By: Landcrusher

Landcrusher — Tue, 20 May 2008 03:56:54 +0000

Chanman,

If you want to know how much they are making, compare the Canadian price to the US price while adjusting for the currency difference. The difference is pure profit baby.

By: George Labrador

George Labrador — Mon, 19 May 2008 22:32:16 +0000

I just purchased a new Toyota Rav4, at the dealer in Ontario they showed on there board that in the month of May, they had sold 91 New vehicles, mine was number 90 up to the date I took delivery of my vehicle!

By: chanman

chanman — Mon, 19 May 2008 19:41:26 +0000

Chrysler dealers are running radio ads claiming they’ll finance you even if ‘your credit is so bad, even your momma won’t lend you money’.

Also, 10k rebate off a new Dodge Ram.

So sales are fine, but how much money are they making here?

By: AGR

AGR — Mon, 19 May 2008 16:03:38 +0000

A truly unique Canadian phenomenon is the penetration of leasing in the Canadian market which is at least 50% and higher on the more expensive models.

Canadian sales have been very strong for the first 4 months of 2008, since prices have been adjusted downward, incentives are aggressive.

One item pundits forget to mention with 50% penetration of leasing many of the sales are a simple replacement of the leased vehicle coming to term for a new vehicle, often at a lower monthly payment with the adjusted prices.

The amount of lease returns owned by captives with deteriorating residual values is also increasing.

The Canadian consumer is experiencing a “golden bubble” when it comes to the cost of vehicles. With lower prices for new vehicles, and no downside for value erosion (on a lease return).

By: ash78

ash78 — Mon, 19 May 2008 15:29:30 +0000

Comparing a quarter over a previous, dissimilar quarter is ridiculous. Especially when you compare with a 4Q number, which is typically the lowest in volume for car sales.

At the bank where I work, for example, I don’t think we have a 4Q-thru-1Q on record that doesn’t show at least a 10% increase.

By: Glenn Swanson

Glenn Swanson — Mon, 19 May 2008 15:27:30 +0000

MikeInCanada: Yeah, but 9% over what? Last year, last quarter, last year’s first quarter…?

Point taken; according to the article:
“An exceptionally strong January powered a 9.1 per cent gain in unit sales in the first quarter compared with the fourth quarter of 2007…”

By: NickR

NickR — Mon, 19 May 2008 15:19:17 +0000

If I am not mistaken, isn’t Chrysler ahead of Ford in the Canadian market?

By: MikeInCanada

MikeInCanada — Mon, 19 May 2008 15:19:04 +0000

…..sales rose a bit over nine percent during the first quarter of the year. Yeah, but 9% over what? Last year, last quarter, last year’s first quarter…?

I can’t help but think that they are cherry picking their time frames when measuring these type of ‘increase’s’. A simple MS Excel spreadsheet with a sales over time (2 to 3 years, per quarter) line chart would speak volumes.

I don’t think that fleet sales are such a big deal in Canada as they are in other markets…. It’s too bad they don’t tell us just how much these types of sales make up the market; as a percentage.