By Tyler Marr

Auto sales on the rise in Saskatchewan and Prince Albert

Jul 7, 2017 | 5:00 PM

Auto sales in the province are driving towards a record setting year, according to recent numbers from the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association.

Statistics released this week show that Saskatchewan automobile sales are up 15 per cent over last year. These numbers are based on sales of new vehicles from dealerships.

“Saskatchewan is leading [with 15 per cent] which is an amazing rate of growth,” Michael Hatch, the association’s chief economist said. 

He said the industry is coming off its fourth straight year of record growth and believed it was likely the country would see more than two million vehicles sold in 2017. In 2016, Canada saw over 1.95 million sales, which is the current record.

In May alone, the association said Saskatchewan saw 4,995 sales, up from 4,204 this time last year. Year to date, the province has seen 22,518 vehicle sales over just 19,578 in 2016.

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Hatch credited the growth of sales to the province’s economy, which was not as hard hit as our neighbours to the West. According to Hatch, there “is a great degree of optimism in the air and recovery in the air.”

“Consumers are willing to spend money and they have confidence they are able to carry the debt that is associated with the new vehicle purchase and these are all good things for the economy,” he added.

It is believed many of these sales are fuelled by young families, middle aged and older people, as a new car is not on the radar of many millennials.

Hatch said there is a certain cyclicality to the car business and that we just happen to be at or near the peak.

“Eventually we will have a year where we don’t set a record and that will be okay,” he added.

As for the future of the industry, Hatch expressed confidence and said dealerships are doing well adapting to external pressures like Uber, increased transit use and new technologies.

“I say bring it on,” Hatch said.

This was echoed by Charlie Gareau, a senior sales associate at Rally Mazda.

“Things have been up and down, but since 2014 it has definitely been on a steady trend upwards for sure,” he said.

Trent Hargrave, the partial owner of Riverside Dodge Chrysler Jeep, held this view too.

“I always look at the big numbers but then the individual dealership for us it has even [been] very nice,” he said.

“There is still something to be said for living (in Prince Albert). There are still people who want and need to drive and there is a way to serve those people. I am confident in Saskatchewan and Prince Albert.”

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr