Nissan maintains strong European sales in April

May 12, 2012

Nissan maintains strong European sales in April

12.5.12

Wheelsology

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Nissan in Europe has announced sales of more than 49,000 units in April despite a weakening market in Western Europe.

Overall sales were down by 4,700 units compared to a record April 2011, with monthly market share dipping slightly by 0.1 per cent
year-on-year to 3.4 per cent.

This robust performance was achieved in a market that was down around 5 per cent or 82,000 units against last year, mainly due to overall sluggish demand in some countries in the south of the region.

However in Eastern Europe, where demand increased by 10 per cent versus 2011, Nissan significantly outperformed the market and achieved a 23 per cent rise. In Russia, Nissan sold 2,500 units more than last year, boosting monthly share to 4.8 per cent (0.6 per cent above 2011).

Sales of the increasingly popular Juke climbed by 18 per cent year-on-year with the UK-built compact crossover achieving the largest monthly increase of any Nissan model in April.

And in another market sector led by Nissan, the revolutionary Nissan Leaf electric vehicle tripled European sales to 563 units compared to April last year.

Nissan Leaf is the most popular electric vehicle of all time and has sold more than 27,000 units globally since its launch in December 2010. This year Europe will play an important role in the company's aim of doubling worldwide sales compared to 2011.

"Considering the overall drop in demand in some regional markets, our April performance is extremely healthy and demonstrates the underlying popularity of our model range," said Guillaume Cartier, Nissan Europe Sales Vice-President.

"We have successfully maintained our overall market share, and in some key countries including Russia, we continue to make significant gains over a very strong 2011."

"We have also seen a step-change in Leaf sales in April. I am confident we will see this trend continuing throughout the year as we launch the car in more markets, supply constraints are eased and supporting infrastructures expand and become more evolved," he further added.