Nissan just loves the Russian market

Nissan sold more cars to Russia than anywhere else in Europe last month, figures have revealed.

Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK, which employs nearly 7,000 workers at its Sunderland plant, sold 60,155 vehicles in November, a rise from the 51,651 sold in the same month a year ago.

The company said Russian sales reached 15,275, with UK sales standing at 11,059. Nissan executivesnote that this was 34 per cent up on the same period last year.

The Qashqai was Nissan’s best-selling model with 22,139 deals, ahead of the Juke’s 10,402. Both models are made in Sunderland.

Nissan executives reveal also that the company sold 1,644 all-electric Leaf hatchbacks, which also roll off Sunderland’s production line.

Last month, Nissan revealed it had made its two millionth Qashqai in the region.

Of the two million Qashqais made in Sunderland since December 2006, 85 per cent (1,706,633) have been exported to 132 international markets.

The company now has its eyes on the next phase of its growth when production of the sporty Infiniti model becomes the first Sunderland-built model exported to the US. As reported earlier in these posts, a team from the North-East has travelled to Japan to refine prototypes of the luxurious Infiniti Q30 hatchback, with production trials due to start in February ahead of car making in August.

The Sunderland plant is being extended and 280 staff recruited to make it capable of producing up to 60,000 Infiniti vehicles a year.