Canadian sales at GM, Ford sag in December

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canadian vehicle sales for December and the full year declined at two of the Big Three automakers, company figures showed on Thursday.

General Motors of Canada GM.N said its overall sales slumped 28 percent in December to 26,090 vehicles, compared with the same month last year. Year over year, combined sales of cars and light trucks fell 4.2 percent to 403,712.

Ford Motor Co of Canada's (F.N) December sales also dipped, falling 11.8 percent to 15,163 units as truck sales slipped 7.2 percent. Total sales for the year were down 2.2 percent at 224,356.

Meanwhile, Chrysler Canada monthly sales rose 2.9 percent to 19,130 vehicles. Annual sales were up 5.6 per cent in 2007 as the company said it added new customers and introduced nine new models, putting it in the No. 2 spot with total vehicle sales of 232,859.

Toyota Canada Inc's (7203.T) December sales jumped 23.8 percent to 15,088 units, while it saw its best year for annual sales, up 2.8 percent to 201,326 over the year before.

The rise was helped by sales of hybrid vehicles which nearly doubled from 2006.

Honda Canada Inc (7267.T) also set an annual sales record with its Honda and Acura divisions, gaining 3 percent to 170,307. Its December sales grew 12 percent to 17,817.

December sales at Honda division were up 10 percent to 15,542, while Acura sales were up 27 percent to 2,275.

($1=$0.99 Canadian)

(Reporting by Leah Schnurr; editing by Rob Wilson)