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Despite posting weaker sales in December, automakers sold a record 2.038 million new vehicles in Canada in 2017 as more drivers opted to purchase SUVs and trucks over passenger cars.

The light-truck segment — which includes SUVs, pickup trucks and vans — accounted for 68.6 per cent of the market share, an increase of 8.7 per cent when compared to 2016, according to DesRosiers Automotive Consultants Inc. At the same time passenger car sales fell 3.4 per cent to the lowest level since 1964 with 639,823 units sold, compared to 1.39 million light trucks.

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“While we had a decline (in December) on a year-over-year basis, the strength during all of 2017 was such that we shattered the previous record, surpassing two million units for the first time ever,” said Carlos Gomes, a senior economist and auto industry specialist at Scotiabank.

“It’s good news in the sense that it highlights that the consumer is coming back to the market with soaring demands for crossovers, but it’s also telling us that business investment is also strengthening, which is confirmed by a sharp improvement in pickup truck sales.”