New-vehicle gross sales in July fell almost six per cent in contrast with the identical month a yr in the past, in response to DesRosiers Automotive Consultants, which stated “normalcy remained an elusive objective” within the business as semiconductor and stock shortages proceed.

The agency estimates automakers bought 155,657 autos final month, down 5.7 per cent. Month-to-month gross sales totals are estimates now that almost all of corporations have turned to quarterly reporting.

“Some vendor tons resembled barren wastelands, and the business continued to battle its provide/demand mismatches,” the consultancy stated in a press release. 

The seasonally adjusted annual gross sales price (SAAR) for the month reached 1.71 million, constructing on enchancment seen in June when the quantity was 1.65 million. Nonetheless, July’s SAAR remained properly beneath March’s 1.92 million.

“Beneath the considerably tepid top-line quantity, it was not all doom and gloom with some producers growing gross sales from 2020,” Andrew King, managing associate of DesRosiers. “These disparities in efficiency are the true story for the month, and can doubtless persist for the rest of the yr because the affect of the semiconductor shortages proceed to range drastically by mannequin and by producer.”

Toyota Canada managed to shake off stock shortages, pandemic restrictions and seemingly the rest at present negatively affecting the auto business en path to a file July.

The automaker bought 23,845 new autos, up 19.4 per cent over the identical month a yr in the past and up 10 per cent over July 2019, when gross sales have been unaffected by the COVID-19 disaster.

The Canadian-made RAV4 noticed file July gross sales of 6,702, making it the best-selling car in Toyota’s lineup. Highlander’s 2,070 gross sales have been additionally a file.

In the meantime, the corporate’s Lexus luxurious division reported its fifth consecutive month of file gross sales with 2,608 items bought, with the Lexus UX, NX and RX CUVs all experiencing July data.

Electrified autos account for 28 per cent of Toyota Canada’s general gross sales in July.

With stock so tight at many dealerships, Robert Karwel, senior supervisor of automotive apply at J.D. Energy Canada, says the typical incentive per car fell beneath the $4,000 mark in each Might and June — July numbers aren’t but out there. Incentives are on the lowest level since J.D. Energy began monitoring them in Canada in 2012.

In consequence, Karwel stated fewer incentives from automakers make electrical autos extra engaging, as a result of they high quality for 1000’s of {dollars} in authorities rebates. On PEI for instance, there’s a provincial incentive value $5,000 that may be coupled with the federal rebate of as much as $5,0000. Quebecors can qualify for as much as $12,000 in EV rebates once they mix the provincial and federal applications.

“Whereas producers have backed off incentives, the governments haven’t,” Karwel advised Automotive Information Canada. “When you’re merely searching for bang in your buck, there’s by no means been a greater time to purchase an EV.”

Subaru additionally set a file for the month with 6,039 gross sales. The automaker stated it was the third-highest variety of autos bought in any month ever.

The Crosstrek, Subaru’s compact crossover, had one other file month with 2,839 items bought, a rise of 94.6 per cent over July 2020.

“We have been more than happy with our robust gross sales efficiency,” Subaru Canada CEO Yasushi Enami stated in a press release  “As we come to the top of summer season, we are going to keep our momentum.”

Volvo additionally posted positive aspects in July, with gross sales up 9 per cent to 1,103.

Hyundai gross sales, together with the Genesis luxurious line, fell 5.6 per cent to 12,638, though Genesis gross sales surged 356 per cent to 524 items.

Kia gross sales have been basically flat, up simply 5 items to eight,305.

Mazda gross sales fell 10 per cent to six,340 gross sales.