B.C.’s auto industry edged 0.8% downward in October, mirroring a similar decline across the country.
This according to a Statistics Canada report released Tuesday that saw B.C.’s new motor vehicle sales total 13,256 units in October.
That’s compared with 13,366 units in September and 14,068 units in October 2009, representing a 5.8% decrease year-over-year.
The September-to-October decline was felt in every western province.
Statistics Canada said the nationwide decrease was largely the result of a 3.7% drop in the number of trucks, vans and buses sold in October.
Yet passenger car sales increased 4.2% in October, which was driven by a 6.8% increase in the number of North American-built passenger calls that were sold.
Still, the number of North American- and overseas-built passenger cars sold in October remained below 2009 levels.