Auto sales picking up: Chrysler #1 seller in January

Brampton-built Chrysler 300 had 260 per cent increase in sales in January 2012 compared to the same month last year.

Chrysler Canada was the number 1 seller of new vehicles in January. It sold 22 per cent more vehicles in January 2012 than in the same month last year. More people in Canada bought Chryslers this past January—16,584 of them—than any other car, making it the best January for the company since 2002.

The company has had 26 consecutive months of year-over-year growth in sales. According to Dave Buckingham, Chrysler Canada’s CEO, Canadians have traditionally bought plenty of Chrysler trucks, but this past month saw a doubling of sales of fuel-efficient passenger cars as well, making Chrysler the overall favourite for the month. Sales of the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger tripled and quadrupled respectively in January.

Both Toyota and Honda Canada also had a good January. Toyata had its best ever, with 10,660 sales, while Honda more than doubled its sales to just over 9,000. The Honda sales spike was partly a result of production delays caused by last year’s flooding in Thailand.

A report from ScotiaBank says that resource-rich Alberta and Saskatchewan, where unemployment is under 5 per cent, will lead in new car purchases in 2012.