New car sales struggling in Canada, Russia

New vehicle sales in Canada were down by three percent compared to November 2008 – the fifth straight single-digit drop after the previous eight straight months of double-digit collapses.

November sales reached 102,188 units taking the year-to-date total to 1,349, 608 – 13 percent below the comparative figure for 2008.

Including car and light truck sales, Ford topped the table with 16,379 – 12,454 of those trucks – declining one percent overall.

Second-ranked Toyota’s sales soared by 26 percent to 16,112, while General Motors limped to third position with 14,983 on the back of a 30 percent slump.

However, the situation is even bleaker in Russia where new car sales almost halved compared to November 2008.

The results mirror those of the previous 10 months, with year-to-date sales down 50 percent, prompting Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to introduce a scrappage scheme.

Drivers who trade in vehicles at least 10 years old for a new Russian-made car will get a 50,000 rouble (AUD$1800) refund.

Russia also plans to give battling local manufacturer AvtoVAZ 50 billion roubles ($1.81 billion) in aid.

(with Automotive News)