TORONTO — New-vehicle gross sales in Canada elevated barely in 2021 compared with the yr earlier than, however they completed nicely under figures from 2019, the final full yr earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic started.

Automakers bought 1.64 million new autos final yr, up 6.6 per cent over 2020, in accordance with DesRosiers Automotive Consultants. However gross sales have been 300,000 items — or 15.5 per cent — shy of the 1.94 million bought in 2019.

Final yr was the eleventh finest on document however was down 19.6 per cent from the market excessive of simply over two million items in 2017, in accordance with DesRosiers’ numbers.

Reverse ends of the shopping for course of hindered gross sales the final two years. Canadians couldn’t depart their houses a lot in 2020 as provincial and territorial governments enacted strict public well being measures in an effort to flatten the COVID-19 curve early. And in 2021, whereas individuals returned to work — and procuring — new autos have been few and much between due to bottlenecks within the provide chain and the continuing shortages of semiconductors and stock. 

“Whereas 2020 was a yr beset by demand issues, 2021 was hit by issues on the provision facet of the equation,” stated Andrew King, DesRosiers managing accomplice.

DesRosiers estimates that December gross sales fell 4.5 per cent to 102,919 items from a yr earlier as semiconductor provide points continued to have an effect on the business. Month-to-month gross sales figures are estimates as a result of so many automakers have turned to quarterly reporting solely.

Ford was the top-selling automaker of 2021 with 243,447 items bought, topping Toyota’s 225,215, in accordance with the Automotive Information Analysis & Knowledge Middle in Detroit. Ford needed to rally from behind to cross the Japanese automaker, which was the No. 1 vendor in the USA in 2021, after it ended Normal Motors’ 90-year run as king south of the border. Ford trailed Toyota by 1,228 items in Canada by the primary three quarters however has now been the top-selling automaker for 13 consecutive years in Canada.

Toyota Canada declined to remark concerning the yr, telling Automotive Information Canada it doesn’t usually talk about gross sales figures.

Normal Motors positioned third on the gross sales podium at 217,475 bought in 2021.

Success tales have been hidden among the many crises that battered the business for yr.

Kia Canada posted a record-shattering 2021 with 79,198 items bought, making final yr the most effective on document for the model. Kia, and its Korean cousin Hyundai, each weathered the microchip scarcity early on in 2021.

Kia Canada COO Elias El-Achhab feels good concerning the yr forward.

“As we sit up for 2022, shopper demand stays exceptionally excessive, leaving us optimistic for the yr forward with new and thrilling fashions just like the extremely anticipated Kia EV6, set to reach in dealerships early subsequent yr,” he stated in an announcement.

In the meantime, Subaru Canada posted a nine-per-cent gross sales acquire over 2020 with 56,870 items bought in what the model referred to as a “tumultuous yr.”

Normal Motors Canada stated its luxurious Cadillac line had a document yr. Gross sales have been up seven per cent to 13,274 final yr.

“Regardless of continued stock constraints the business confronted in 2021, GM delivered robust year-end gross sales outcomes because of excessive buyer demand throughout our portfolio,” stated Sandor Piszar, vice- president, gross sales, service and advertising and marketing, GM Canada.

segments, gentle truck gross sales accounted for greater than 80 per cent of whole gross sales for the primary time, rising to 81.2 per cent in 2021, up from 79.9 per cent in 2020, in accordance with DesRosiers.

The highest-selling gentle truck for the yr was the Ford F-series with 116,401 items bought.

The Honda Civic was the top-selling passenger automobile at 43,556 items.

This report can be up to date. The Canadian Press contributed to this report.