2014 Year of the Light Truck according to DesRosiers

The used market isn't the only facet of the Canadian automotive industry where trucks reign supreme. According to the Market Snapshot from DesRosiers Automotive Consultants Inc., the numbers from 2014 reflect the same trend in the new-vehicle segments.
Overall truck sales eclipsed one million units for the first time ever, according to the report, while also accounting for 58.7 percent of the entire market. The Ford F-Series remained the stalwart champion of the Canadian market, with 126,277 units sold last year. The number two truck - the Ram Pickup - even outsold Canada's favorite passenger car, the Honda Civic, by 34 percent, with 88,521 and 66,057 units sold, respectively.
While truck sales, as a whole, were up 11 percent year-over-year, they had a solid December with a 19.5 percent increase year-over-year. Although passenger vehicles also had a December increase, of 10.7 percent, their year-long results saw a decrease in sales of 0.1 percent compared to 2013.
According to DesRosiers, it's unclear whether or not lower gas prices had anything to do with the changes in sales.
"Large sport utility vehicles were up 61.8 percent in December, three times their growth rate earlier in the year," said Dennis DesRosiers, in his company's report. "However, at the same time, some of the most fuel efficient vehicles in the market, subcompact cars, also had a relatively strong month. Obviously it is too early to say if lower gas prices will lead to a long-term change in the mix of vehicles bought by Canadians, and the impact of this dynamic will likely vary greatly by segment and by region."
Several other vehicles had a big year in Canada. Compared to 2013, the Nissan Rogue showed the biggest improvement, breaking into the top-10 trucks sold with a 70.8 percent increase in sales in 2014. In the passenger-vehicle market, the Hyundai Accent saw a 22.7 percent year-over-year increase in sales. Overall, total sales in Canada increased 6.1 percent in 2014, increasing to 1,851,373 total units (1,087,581 trucks, 763,792 passenger cars).

2014 Year of the Light Truck According to DesRosiers.................... www.redlineautosales.ca/2014-year-of-the-light-truck-according-to-desrosiers.htm

Fuel-Efficient Vehicle Prices Falling Together with Gas Prices

As gas prices continue to drop, so are pricetags on more fuel-efficient used vehicles.
And after falling slightly over the course of the end of 2014, overall used-price drops are expected to escalate as the industry kicks off into the new year and supply begins to expand.
That's according to ALG's latest Industry Report, which predicts prices will drop by 0.5 percent over the course of January and February.
Geoff Helby, Canada regional director, partner development at ALG, reported, this price movement is much less negative than rates seen during this time last year, when residual declines came in at 1.3 percent.
That said, supply is expanding, and it's beginning to have an impact on used prices - as many dealers may be waiting for used prices to drop in the lanes.
"Used market supply is forecasted to rise in aggregate; on average this brings residuals down by -0.02 percent, though impacts by segment range from -0.3 percent to +0.4 percent," Helby said.
Supply movement is expected to impact most segments, though the results are varied.
"The subcompact utility segment displays the largest negative impact, at -0.3 percent, whereas microcars show the largest positive impact of 0.4 percent," Helby said.
Also playing a role in price movement has been the swiftly dropping fuel prices at the pump.
"Falling gas prices had a negative impact on fuel-efficient segments, while inefficient segments rose," Helby said, highlighting a trend seen over the course of this past November and December.
Much of the same is expected this time around, as oil rates continue to drop.
Over the course of this month and February, prices for subcompact prices are expected to drop by 1.1 percent, marking the largest predicted decline this time around.
The compact segment, another segment known for its fuel-efficiency, is predicted to follow with a decline of 0.8 percent, Helby reported.
The midsize cars wrap up the three segments expected to see larger-than-average residual declines, with a 0.7-percent drop.
On the other hand, the premium sport segment is expected to see a 0.2-percent increase in price as we inch closer toward warmer months.
Lastly, the premium performance segment and the premium subcompact segment are expected to stay consistent with rates seen in late 2014.

 Fuel Efficient Vehicle Prices Falling Together With Gas Prices........ www.redlineautosales.ca/fuel-efficient-vehicle-prices-falling-together-with-gas-prices.htm

Free Trade Agreement Lowers Canadian Hyundai Prices

15th of January 2016 marks the effective beginning of the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA) for Hyundai, making many of Hyundai's 2015 models cheaper to buy in the country by as much as $1,300 off MSRP. The deal may also serve to bring more shoppers searching for a budget-friendly deal into Hyundai Canada dealerships.
The landmark agreement is the first of its kind between Canada and an Asian country and will be rolled out via three annual reductions of the federal import duty, which was previously at 6.1 percent to the landed cost of vehicles manufactured in South Korea.
"Hyundai is pleased to pass the benefits of this significant free trade agreement on to consumers," said Don Romano, president and chief executive officer of Hyundai Auto Canada. "We wanted to take action quickly after the government took the first step toward removing the import duty. Hyundai vehicles have a well-known reputation for making advanced technology and premium features available to consumers at an accessible price."
The pricing adjustments provided by Hyundai, which vary by model, break down as follows:
Hyundai Vehicle Price Drops, By Model

• Accent 5-Door L 6MT - $300
• Elantra Sedan GL 6AT - $650
• Veloster 6MT - $300
• Equus Ultimate - $1,299
• Santa Fe XL - $1,300

"This is definitive proof that the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and South Korea delivers a true benefit to customers," Romano said. "We believe that eliminating international trade barriers empowers consumers to make more informed purchase decisions by providing a clearer picture of the merits of a product. Pricing is obviously a major factor in that decision, so, by adjusting the prices of Hyundai vehicles, our customers will see just how competitive our products actually are."

Free Trade Agreement Lowers Canadian Hyundai Prices................... www.redlineautosales.ca/free-trade-agreement-lowers-canadian-hyundai-prices.htm

2014 Canadas Most Desired Vehicles Top 10

Canada's most sought after vehicles of 2014 were all over the map - both literally and metaphorically.
The top 10 vehicles for the year, provided by autoTRADER.ca, run the gamut of variety, ranging from rides for those city-dwelling, economy-minded consumers, to those with serious performance in mind, both on the road and off. Following is the overarching list provided by autoTRADER.
autoTRADER.ca Top 10 Most Searched Vehicles for 2014

1. Honda Civic
2. Ford F-150
3. BWM 3-Series
4. Ford Mustang
5. Jeep Wrangler
6. Honda Accord
7. Chevrolet Corvette
8. Honda CR-V & Mazda Mazda3 (tie)
9. Porsche 911
10. Ford Escape

The battle for the first position could not have been between two vehicles much more different than one another. Last year's most-searched, the F-150, found itself outpaced by the demand for information on the Civic. This struggle was reflected in six of Canada's 10 provinces, where both the Civic and the F-150 were in either first or second place. In the end, though, the Civic accounted for 3.57 percent of all unique searches on the site, while the iconic pickup made up 2.68 percent.
"The vast majority of Canada is unequivocally truck country," said Ian MacDonald, autoTRADER.ca's director of marketing. "But this year's list proves that there is more than healthy demand for passenger and city-friendly vehicles, both import and domestic."
The Honda Civic celebrated its 17th consecutive year as Canada's best-selling passenger car, as well, garnering sales of 66,057 units in 2014 - over 15,000 more than its closest segment competitor. Dave Gardner, Honda Canada's vice president of sales and marketing, said he values the trust that Canadian customers have put in the Civic.
"Nearly every Civic sold in Canada is built for Canadians, by Canadians, right here in our Ontario manufacturing facility," Gardner said. "Seventeen years is an accomplishment that the entire Honda family can be very proud of; from our over 4,000 associates in Alliston, to our regional and national staff and thousands of associates at our 231 Honda dealers across the country."
The variety of interest for the year was wide - economy cars, pickups, sports cars, crossovers, off-road 4x4s, iconic muscle cars and luxury imports - but one interesting item did not make the list: "dream cars." Outside of the 911, which can almost be considered a bargain in the world of high performance, your Lamborghinis, Ferraris, etc. typically fall into the category.
"It's normal to see at least one or two 'dream cars' make the list, but Canadians clearly shopped more with needs - not wants - in mind this year," MacDonald said.

2014 Canada's Most Desired Vehicles Top 10........................................ www.redlineautosales.ca/2014-canada-s-most-desired-vehicles-top-10.htm

Hyundai to Sell Hydrogen Fuelled Vehicles in Canada

Hyundai Corp. is looking to revive the dream of a fleet of hydrogen-fuelled vehicles driving on Canadian highways as it becomes the first auto manufacturer to launch in Canada a fuel cell version of an existing car model.
Hyundai will announce Wednesday that it is offering three-year leases for the Tucson FCEV to drivers in British Columbia's Lower Mainland, one of the few areas in the country that have hydrogen fuelling stations that were put in place as B.C. sought to demonstrate the fuel cell hydrogen technology during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
"We believe Hyundai has passed the tipping point in fuel cell technology development and that it's ready to be driven by customers interested in pioneering a zero-emissions automotive future," Don Romano, president of Hyundai Auto Canada Corp., said in an interview. "It is a new game; it is a new future."But to achieve broader market appeal for the hydrogen vehicles, Hyundai is urging governments and industry to work together to build a network of hydrogen fuelling stations. As with electric vehicles, the industry faces a classic chicken-and-egg situation in which motorists don't want to buy cars that they can't easily refuel, while industry is reluctant to invest in the infrastructure without a critical mass of cars on the road.
The fuel cell industry has been struggling to break into the passenger vehicle market for decades. In Canada, Ballard Power Systems Inc. developed fuel cell applications for stationary power systems, forklifts and buses, but it failed to break through in the passenger vehicle market despite high-profile alliances with Ford Motor Co. and Daimler AG.
Advances in fuel cell technology and increasing demand from governments for zero-emission vehicles to combat climate change have breathed new life into the fuel-cell market, with the South Korean auto maker now in a race with Japan's Toyota Motor Corp. to establish leadership in the market.
Toyota unveiled its Mirai fuel cell car at the Los Angeles Auto Show earlier this month. Toyota Canada Inc. is not prepared to say when the car will be available in Canada.
"While Canada currently has very limited hydrogen infrastructure, developing an adequate fuelling infrastructure is required to move forward," Toyota Canada spokeswoman Sandy Di Felice said Tuesday.
In such vehicles, hydrogen is stored on board - like gasoline in a tank - and then transformed into electricity by the fuel cell to run an electric motor. The only byproduct is water vapour, resulting in zero emissions from the tailpipe. However, it requires electricity to produce hydrogen, so emissions can result from that process depending on the source of the power.
Last year, Hyundai became the first auto manufacturer to mass-produce fuel cell vehicles, and has been introducing them in its home market, as well as in California - where the state mandates the sale of zero-emission vehicles - and in several European countries.
Mr. Romano said the fuel cell vehicles have clear advantages over electric cars, such as the Tesla or Chevrolet Volt, because it has greater range and can be refuelled in five minutes. Electric vehicle makers are still working to develop batteries that can provide that kind of range and convenience.
But the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles is much better developed than it is for fuel-cell-powered cars.
Tesla and Quebec City-based Groupe Germain Hospitalité expanded the network further Tuesday, announcing that the chain of 10 hotels in Canada will add Tesla's private charging program to its network of existing chargers.
The charging stations follow the company's focus on environmentally friendly technology, Jean-Yves Germain, co-president of Group German Hotels said Tuesday.
"We were the first hotel in the country with geothermal technology to heat our hotels," said Mr. Germain, who said he bought a Tesla last year and came close to running out of juice a few times before charging stations became much more common.
The Tesla system will enable hotel guests to recharge their vehicles in four hours, compared with as long as 12 hours at other charges, he said.
While the public continues to have safety concerns with the hydrogen-fuelled cars, the Hyundai executive said they have been crash tested and certified, and that equipping a vehicle with a hydrogen tank is no more dangerous that gasoline.


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