TORONTO - Chrysler models continued to be the best selling vehicles in Canada in April as the automaker also claimed the sales lead for the year to date, beating out the 2011 title holder Ford Canada.
Chrysler said it sold 24,540 vehicles in April, up three per cent from 23,837 in the same month in 2011. The numbers also represent Chrysler's 29th consecutive month in year-over-year sales growth.
"Our highly fuel efficient new product is definitely giving our sales results a shot of adrenalin. After four months, we are off to the best start we have had in a decade," said Dave Buckingham, chief operating officer at Chrysler Canada.
"To put the fuel efficient new product lift into perspective, the Fiat 500 and Chrysler 200 alone combined for over 3,300 sales in April."
Chrysler's year-to-date sales of 80,363 were also the best start to a year since 2002, up nine per cent from 73,633 in the opening third of 2011.
It has been Canada's top-selling automaker in three out of the four opening months of the year.
Meanwhile, Ford Motor Company of Canada, which wrested the top sales spot back from Chrysler in March, said its April sales fell 5.4 per cent to 24,171 from 25,548 in the same month of 2011.
Still, it said its fuel-efficient vehicles are doing well, with car sales increasing 5.1 per cent year-over-year, offset by a nine per cent decline in truck sales.
Ford Focus sales were up 38 per cent, Fusion sales rose 11 per cent and Taurus sales jumped 106 per cent.
"With gas prices hitting record highs last month, we saw an increasing number of Canadian consumers choosing cars," said Dianne Craig, president and CEO, Ford of Canada.
"Ford has invested heavily in fuel-efficient gas engines, hybrids, plug-in hybrids and electric vehicle technology -- we like to call this the power of choice."
Crossover vehicle sales also rose, up 20 per cent year-over year.
Smaller, but quickly growing Kia Canada said it had its best month ever in April with 8,010 new vehicles sold, an 18 per cent increase compared to April 2011.
In the U.S., General Motors and Ford reported weaker April sales, hurt by lower demand for compact and subcompact cars.
Toyota sales rose 12 per cent as its inventories finally returned to pre-earthquake levels. Chrysler posted a 20-per cent rise in sales. Its top sellers included the Ram pickup and Chrysler 200 midsize sedan, which benefited from big rebates of $2,000 or more, analysts said.
GM sales declined eight per cent, hurt by new products and aggressive marketing from competitors. Ford sales fell five per cent as demand for its Fiesta subcompact dropped. Buyers opted for the new Focus small car instead.
