October auto sales rise for Canada's Big 3

TORONTO, Nov 1, 2002 Reuters reported that Canada's Big Three automakers said on Friday that October car and truck sales were up comfortably from the same month last year, when consumer confidence was deflated in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks.

General Motors of Canada said its total vehicle sales rose 8.3 percent to 37,531 in October, led by car sales that increased nearly 9 percent.

Year-to-date sales at GM were 432,349 vehicles, 11.3 percent ahead of last year's pace.

Auto sales have been helped this year by interest-free financing and other deals designed to bolster demand.

Ford Motor Co. of Canada reported a 12 percent jump in vehicle sales from October 2001 as 18,458 cars and trucks rolled off the lot.

While car sales enjoyed a larger rise of 23.4 percent, overall Ford sold more than twice as many trucks as cars.

For the year-to-date, Ford's sales are up 6.5 percent over the first 10 months of 2001.

DaimlerChrysler Canada, meanwhile, said it moved 18,204 cars and trucks in October, a 5.8 percent jump from the same period last year.

In the first 10 months of the year, the company said total vehicle sales were 2.8 percent ahead of those of the same period last year.