ROLLE, Switzerland - Today Nissan in Europe announced sales of 52,354 units in May, lifting volume for the first five months of the year to over 300,000 units.
Despite the economic uncertainty in some European markets, which continues to impact all manufacturers, Nissan's diverse product range is helping to maintain sales.
The robust monthly performance means, for the January-May period, Nissan's average share of the European market stands at nearly 4% compared to 3.7% over the same period last year.
Demand for the Sunderland-built Qashqai crossover remains strong, as does the popularity of Nissan's growing range of light commercial vehicles (LCVs).
It was announced last month that the LCV range will receive a boost in the next financial year when the innovative 100% electric e-NV200 van enters production in Barcelona.
Based on the existing and conventionally-powered NV200, which is also built in Barcelona, e-NV200 will underline Nissan's leadership of the Electric Vehicle segment and support the company's goal of becoming the largest LCV manufacturer in the world by 2016.
Nissan Europe Sales Vice President, Guillaume Cartier, said: "It's clear that overall demand across Europe continues to be impacted by wider financial uncertainty, particularly in the south of the region.
"However, within this context Nissan's performance in Europe so far this year is extremely encouraging and our sales volume is up by around 3.5% for the first five months.
"We are achieving this thanks to the breadth of our model range which allows us to compete strongly across many different segments, while our growing presence in Russia - where demand remains healthy - is helping to off-set weaker markets."
About Nissan in Europe
Nissan has one of the most comprehensive European presences of any overseas manufacturer, employing more than 14,500 staff across locally-based design, research & development, manufacturing, logistics and sales & marketing operations. Last year Nissan plants in the UK, Spain and Russia produced 677,000 vehicles including mini-MPVs, award-winning crossovers, SUVs and commercial vehicles. Nissan now offers 24 diverse and innovative products for sale in Europe today, and is positioned to become the number one Asian brand in Europe.
About Nissan
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second-largest automotive company, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 248,000 employees globally, Nissan provided customers with more than 4.8 million vehicles in 2011, generating revenue of 9.4 trillion yen ($US118.95 billion). With a strong commitment to developing exciting and innovative products for all, Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of 64 models under the Nissan and Infiniti brands. A pioneer in zero-emission mobility, Nissan made history with the introduction of the Nissan LEAF, the first affordable, mass-market, pure-electric vehicle and winner of numerous international accolades, including the prestigious 2011-2012 Car of the Year Japan and 2011 World Car of the Year awards.
For more information on our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit our website at http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/Opens in a new tab..
# # #
