New-vehicle gross sales had been up about 13 per cent in Might in comparison with the identical month a 12 months in the past, in line with estimates by DesRosiers Automotive Consultants (DAC).

The agency says automakers offered an estimated 160,000, up over the 140,725 offered in Might 2022.

Month-to-month gross sales are estimates now that so many automakers have modified to quarterly — or within the case of Ford of Canada, annual — gross sales reporting.

Might marked simply the second month this 12 months wherein gross sales had been up over 2021 totals, which had been increased than 2022 totals in all however November and December of final 12 months.

DAC stated that traditionally, Might was as a rule the strongest gross sales month of the 12 months over the earlier decade. It took the gross sales crown eight occasions between 2010 and 2019.

“The final three years have seen very totally different gross sales patterns, nonetheless, with first the pandemic after which the semiconductor scarcity, which means that the normal spring promoting season did not materialise,” the consultancy stated in a press release.

DAC stated “there was undoubtedly hope” in hope.

DAC Managing Companion Andrew King stated Might was “undoubtedly a optimistic signal of improved car availability throughout a broader array of producers.”

Nevertheless, the newest Might complete marks a 21-per-cent decline from 2019, when automakers offered 203,343 new automobiles. That was the final Might earlier than COVID-19 arrived and the microchip and stock shortages began to take maintain.

“Whereas Might 2023 did supply hope it needs to be famous that there’s nonetheless an extended technique to go,” DAC stated.

HOW THEY FARED

Honda Canada gross sales surged a whopping 53 per cent in Might in comparison with the identical month a 12 months in the past.

The automaker offered 14,288 automobiles. Honda model gross sales had been up 55.1 per cent to 13,204 whereas luxurious Acura gross sales rose 30.6 per cent 1,084.

Nevertheless, that’s nonetheless a 31-per-cent decline over pre-pandemic numbers of 2019, when the automaker offered 20,687 within the month.

Honda Canada CEO Jean-Marc LeClerc stated the microchip and stock conditions are bettering.

“I believe we’ve turned the nook. I believe what you’re seeing there may be simply our capability to ship a financial institution of offered orders that we’ve accrued for a very long time, and that continues to develop,” he informed Automotive Information Canada at BEV In-Depth: Mines to Mobility convention in Sudbury.

However, he additionally cautioned that microchips are nonetheless not “free flowing.” 

“The second half of the 12 months, we’re definitely on the lookout for our operations to be at 100 per cent in our crops, however we’re additionally cautiously optimistic.”

Gross sales of the Canada-made CR-V noticed its gross sales rise 61.1 per cent to six,480, essentially the most of any nameplate.

The Honda Civic, additionally made in Canada, posted an 18-per-cent improve to three,217 final month. However that paled as compared by proportion to the HR-V, up 281.6 per cent to 973; the Ridgeline, up 310.5 per cent to 353 and Odyssey minivan, up 678.3 per cent to 467. 

Kia gross sales had been up 19.8 per cent to 7,293 whereas its cousin, Hyundai, posted a 1.2 per cent achieve, promoting 10,476.

Toyota Canada gross sales had been down 5.9 per cent to 21,736. Nevertheless, its luxurious Lexus model noticed gross sales improve 18.7 per cent to three,015. Toyota model gross sales had been off 9 per cent to 18,721.

— With information from David Kennedy