Ottawa -
Both trucks and cars posted increases as new-vehicle sales rose 8.1 per cent to 138,336 in February.
Statistics Canada reports preliminary industry data indicate the number of new vehicles sold decreased four per cent in March.
Sales of new trucks (which include minivans, sport-utility vehicles, light and heavy trucks, vans and buses) increased eight per cent to 71,803 in February, their highest sales since January 2008.
The agency says that while the number of passenger cars sold has traditionally exceeded the number of trucks sold monthly, truck sales have been higher in eight of the past 10 months.
The number of new passenger cars sold in February increased 8.2 per cent to 66,533.
Sales of North American-built passenger cars increased 10.1 per cent, while the number of overseas-built passenger cars sold increased 5.9 per cent.
The number of new vehicles sold increased in seven provinces. The largest contribution to the national increase came from an 11 per cent rise in Ontario's sales.
Notable gains were also registered in New Brunswick (13.1), Manitoba (12.1), Nova Scotia (11.1) and Alberta (10.2).
Declines were registered in Prince Edward Island (5.3), Newfoundland and Labrador (2.9), and British Columbia and the Territories (1.0).
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