Toyota sold 237,091 vehicles in 2019, up 2.4 per cent over last year, establishing a new high-water mark for the company.
The Toyota and Lexus brands each set new sales records with 211,551 and 25,540 vehicles sold, respectively. Toyota brand sales were up 1.9 per cent for the year while Lexus sales climbed 5.9 per cent.
Dimitris said most of the automaker’s sales gains came from the Corolla and RAV4, which is made in Ontario. He said he sent a note TO?? Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC) President Frank Voss, praising the factory employees for their work.
The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid XSE accounted for 20 per cent of all RAV4 sales last year.
Dimitris said that in some parts of the country, sales were split 50/50 between hybrids and RAV4s powered by internal combustion engines.
“Wait times were quite long [for the hybrid]. We could have sold more if we had them,” Dimitris said.
Toyota Canada recorded its best year for electrified vehicles sales with 34,698 Toyota and Lexus EVs — including hybrids — sold, up 45 per cent from 2018. Electrified vehicle sales represented 14.6 per cent of the automaker’s overall sales in 2019.
Looking at the month of December, Toyota brand sales totalled 11,500, down 19 per cent over the same time a year ago. Sales of Toyota cars were off 23 per cent to 3,744. Camry and Corolla sales were down 41 and 17 per cent, respectively. On the truck side, only the Highlander posted a sales increase, up seven per cent to 924 units.
Sienna minivan sales fell 66 per cent to 580 sold while even the popular RAV4 dropped six per cent to 3,793 but remained the automaker’s top-selling vehicle.
Lexus brand sales were up four per cent to 1,780 units. Lexus got a boost from its truck sales, which were up 14 per cent while car sales plummeted 35 per cent to just 223 units. The Lexus RX led truck sales with 723 units sold, up 22 per cent.
HYUNDAI, KIA CLIMB
Hyundai and Kia capped the year with increased December sales, helping both post sizeable annual gains, too.
Hyundai sold 7,914 vehicles, including its luxury Genesis brand, in December, up 14 per cent over the same period last year.
The Elantra sedan was the automaker’s best-selling vehicle in December at 2,150 sold. The Tucson was Hyundai’s top-selling truck last month at 1,839 sold. The Kona was close behind at 1,773.
The automaker sold 134,732 units in 2019, up four per cent over the previous year.
Meanwhile, Kia’s December sales rose four per cent to 4,491 vehicles sold while its annual figure increased five per cent to 76,630 vehicles.
Here’s a look at how other automakers fared in December:
FCA ENDS ON POSITIVE NOTE
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles saw its fourth-quarter sales climb 14 per cent when compared to the same period last year. None of the Detroit Three reports on a monthly basis so December sales would only be estimates.
On an annual basis, FCA sales dropped one per cent, though the Ram brand managed to post its second-best year on record with 101,971 vehicles sold in 2019. Ram finished the year strong with 22,452 trucks sold in the fourth quarter, a 27-per-cent increase when compared to the same period a year ago.
“The fourth quarter and full-year sales results for 2019 reinforce the particular strengths of our Ram and Jeep brands, ” Reid Bigland, FCA Canada CEO, said in a statement.
For the year, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Wrangler set new annual sales records with 19,459 and 25,659 sold, respectively. Grand Cherokee sales were up 38 per cent last year while Wrangler sales rose four per cent.
It wasn’t all good news at FCA Canada. Chrysler brand sales fell 40 per cent in 2019 to 5,681 units with Pacifica minivan sales off 38 per cent to 3,731 units. Dodge sales were down 15 per cent on the year with only the Durango posting an increase, up 33 per cent to 9,220 units.
GM SALES SLIP
General Motors Canada saw its fourth-quarter and annual sales both sink.
Sales during the final three months of the year fell six per cent to 53,186 while annual sales decreased 11 per cent to 256,795 vehicles.
While GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado sales were both up in fourth quarter — 10 and 11 per cent, respectively — they were both down 3.3 per cent for the year.
Sandor Piszar, vice-president of sales, service and marketing for GM Canada, appeared to be undeterred by the annual numbers and encouraged by fourth-quarter performance.
“We achieved solid year-end results in 2019,” he said in a statement. “Our fourth quarter saw some significant momentum with pickup sales.
“As Canadian consumer preferences shifted significantly toward crossovers, SUVs and pickups in 2019, we remain well positioned for success in 2020 with our full lineup.”
Cadillac had its best quarter in history, up 15 per cent to 3,051 units, led by the XT4 (up 88 per cent) and XT5 (up nine per cent). Cadillac sales were essentially flat for the year, up just 0.2 per cent.
SUBARU SURGES IN DECEMBER
Subaru sales were up 17 per cent to 4,671 units last month.
The Crosstrek was the automaker’s top seller with 1,193 sold. The Impreza was Subaru’s top-selling car in December.
Subaru sold 57,524 vehicles in 2019, down just 0.9 per cent over 2018.
