New vehicle dealers in B.C. experienced a 2.3% increase in sales in July – the largest improvement in new motor vehicle sales in the province since October 2009.
BCStats reported that sales of American-built trucks increased 7.3% and were responsible for most of the increase in July. North American passenger car sales rose 3.5%.
National sales figures were also positive news for the auto industry.
New motor vehicle sales climbed 2.4% in July with eight provinces registering increases. New Brunswick (6.2%), Ontario (4%) and Quebec experienced the largest jumps.
Nova Scotia, which reported the largest decrease in new motor vehicle sales (-16.3%), was likely impacted by a 2% increase in the province’s HST rate.