By Frank Pingue
TORONTO (Reuters) - Canadian auto sales recorded their best-ever August as the traditional Big Three North American automakers grabbed back some market share from import nameplates, company figures showed on Tuesday.
Ford Motor Co. of Canada
General Motors of Canada
Chrysler Canada sales rose 1.2 percent to 20,503 units and marked the automaker's 13th straight month of gains.
Canadian sales for the Big Three North American automakers -- GM, Chrysler and Ford -- increased 4.3 percent versus a 1.8 percent drop in sales of import nameplates.
It marked the first month this year where sales at the three automakers collectively picked up market share from the imports.
Overall, Canadian auto sales rose 3.1 percent in August to 158,400 from 153,6000 in August 2006.
"Although the percentage increase is low, coming off a record month from a year ago makes these numbers quite impressive," said Dennis DesRosiers, president of DesRosiers Automotive Consulting Inc.
Toyota Canada Inc. <7203.T>, coming off a sales record for July, said vehicle sales fell 4.9 percent to 17,947 in August at its Toyota and luxury Lexus division.
Sales at Toyota fell 5.2 percent to 16,928, while sales at the Lexus division rose 1.8 percent to 1,019.
Honda Canada Inc. <7267.T> said its August vehicle sales rose 3 percent to 18,270 units and set a monthly record in sales for the automaker.
Sales at the automaker's Honda division rose 6 percent to 16,488 vehicles, while sales at its Acura division dropped 20 percent to 1,782 units.
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