Canadian and U.S. auto sales rise in June despite economic challenges

Car sales rose in both Canada and the United States in June 2026, ending a difficult period for the North American auto industry. Canadian dealers sold around 182,000 light vehicles last month, a 1.9% increase compared to June 2025. This was the first month of growth after eight consecutive months of falling sales. In the United States, roughly 1.47 million vehicles were sold, up around 2 to 3% from the previous year.

Despite these encouraging figures, the broader picture remains mixed. Canadian sales for the first half of 2026 were still down 2.6% overall, and U.S. first-half retail sales are expected to fall 4.1%. To attract buyers, American dealers spent an average of $3,217 per vehicle in incentives, which was 12.7% more than a year earlier.