Provincial sales estimates released by DesRosiers Automotive Consultants (DAC) revealed that Canadian new light vehicle sales have declined across all but one province in April, with total vehicle sales approximately 178,000 units, a 3.9% decrease compared to the 186,000 units sold in April 2025.
Year-to-date sales also decreased 4.2% compared to 2025, totalling about 584,000 units. In a statement, Andrew King, managing partner at DAC, said that “The breadth of the sales decreases is certainly concerning,” noting that the decrease in sales reflects “periods of inherent economic weakness and consumer retrenchment.”
Nova Scotia was the only province with an increase in year-over-year sales, growing by 3.4%, while Newfoundland and Labrador had the sharpest decline of 12.0%.
When examining results by volume, Quebec had the greatest decrease of nearly 2,000 units year over year, with Alberta and British Columbia not far behind at a decrease of nearly 1,500 units each. However, Quebec still remained slightly ahead on a year-to-date basis, with a 0.1% increase from 2025.
All other provinces stayed below last year’s rate during the first four-month period of 2026.
