Ford leads Canadian car sales for 2nd month

Sales of cars and light trucks for Ford Motor Company of Canada rose 16 per cent in June over the same period a year earlier, the automaker reported Friday.

The company, based in Oakville, Ont., said that was its best month on record in 10 years, with sales of 31,707. For the second consecutive month, it led automakers in Canadian sales.

"Any increase for Ford of Canada this month is significant when you consider that we are comparing this June's sales to an unprecedented month this time last year," CEO David Mondragon said in a release.

"In June 2009, we were the only major manufacturer to show a sales increase … in an industry that was down 14 per cent and where two key competitors were in bankruptcy," he said.

A year ago, General Motors and Chrysler were in the middle of a massive restructuring. Chrysler Canada's parent company was in court protection from creditors in the United States, leading to the shutdown of all its North American assembly plants and the cutoff of the supply of vehicles to Canadian dealers.

The American government still owns 61 per cent of GM, as a result of Washington's $45.3-billion US investment. The Canadian federal and Ontario governments own about 12 per cent of GM, after they invested a total of $8.1 billion — two-thirds from Ottawa and one-third from the province.

Chrysler Canada doubles volume

Chrysler Canada said its sales reached 18,502 in June, double the volume from the same month in 2009. CEO Reid Bigland said the results show last year's restructuring is on track.

"Year to date our sales are up 36 per cent in an industry up only slightly from 2009," Bigland said in a release.

Kia Canada's sales reached 5,864 units, up 12.8 per cent, while Nissan Canada's sales totalled 8,057, an increase of 8.6 per cent.

Hyundai Auto Canada released its results on Wednesday, reporting sales of 11,501, an increase of 13.8 per cent.