Renault-Nissan Alliance posts record sales in 2011 for third consecutive year
The Renault-Nissan Alliance sold a record 8,029,222 units in 2011, a 10.3% increase from 2010, fuelled by robust sales in emerging markets and the United States.
Sales rose for the third consecutive year. Renault sold 2,722,062 units worldwide, up 3.6% from 2010. Nissan sold 4,669,981 units, up 14.4%. AvtoVAZ Lada accounted for 637,179 units, a 10.9 % increase compared to the previous year.
Renault group highlights
In 2011, Renault posted record global sales of 2.7 million units, up 3.6% compared with a year ago, with 43% of those sales generated outside Europe. Sales outside Europe totaled a record 1,172,686 units, up 19.2%, driven by fast-expanding markets such as Russia (+40%), Turkey (+13%) and Latin America (+10%).
In terms of sales by brand, Renault led with 2,260,694 units sold, up 6.8% compared with a year ago, and accounting for 83% of the Group’s sales. Sales of Dacia fell 1.8% due to supply constraints caused by the tsunami in Japan. Renault Samsung Motors fell 27%.
In 2011, six out of the Group’s top ten markets were located outside Europe with Brazil replacing Germany as Renault’s second-biggest market after France. Renault’s sales in Brazil, where it plans to expand capacity in 2013, grew 21% to a record 194,300 units in a market that expanded 3%. Its market share stood at 5.7%, up 0.9 percentage points from 2010 led by demand for models such as the Sandero hatchback, as well as the Logan and Clio small cars.
In Russia, Renault posted both record sales and market share. Sales jumped 60% to 154,734 units, making it Renault’s fastest-growing market. Market share rose to 5.8%, up 0.7 percentage points from the previous year. Sales were led by the Logan, the Sandero and the Fluence sedan for the sales of the Group in Russia.
Despite economic uncertainty and waning consumer confidence in Europe, Renault remained the No. 2 brand, taking an 8.6% share of the passenger car and light commercial vehicle (LCV) market. Its top-selling passenger cars in Europe were the medium-sized Megane, the Clio and the Twingo mini vehicle. Renault was also Europe’s light commercial vehicle leader for the fourteenth consecutive year with a 15.6% market share.
Nissan highlights
Nissan posted record global sales of 4.67 million units in 2011, up 14.4% compared to 2010.
In China, Nissan’s largest market, the company posted record sales of 1,247,738 units, a 21.9% increase over 2010, led by strong sales of the Sunny and Teana sedans.
In the Americas, Nissan reported record sales of 1,561,230 units for Nissan and Infiniti brand vehicles throughout the region encompassing North, Central and South America, up 17.2% compared with the previous year. The Nissan brand alone gained a market share of 7.5%, up 0.6 percentage points, becoming the No. 2 Asian automotive brand in the region.
The U.S., Mexico and Brazil posted the largest single-country gains. Sales in the US totaled a record 1,042,534 units, up 14.7% compared with 2010 led by the Versa compact car and the Rogue crossover. The Nissan Altima sedan also had a robust sales year and continues to rank among the best-selling vehicles in the country. Market share in the US grew to 8.2%.
In Mexico, where Nissan will open a third plant in 2013 to support its rapid growth across the Americas, sales grew 18.6% while its market share grew to a record 24.8%.
In Brazil, where Nissan plans to build its first plant in Resende in 2014, Nissan’s sales nearly doubled to 67,097 units. Nissan was Brazil’s fastest-growing automotive brand in 2011.
In Japan, Nissan reported sales of 591,312 units, down 8.4% year-on-year in a market that shrank 15%. Nissan’s market share climbed one percentage point to 14%. Nissan Serena was the best-selling minivan in country with 84,359 units sold.
As a result, the Renault-Nissan Alliance captured 10.7%* of the global market in 2011, up from 10.3% the previous year .
“The Alliance capitalized on the resurgence of the US economy and gained significant market share in the regions that will drive growth in the 21st century,” said Renault-Nissan Alliance CEO Carlos Ghosn. “Double-digit sales growth is solid progress – particularly during a year in which we faced Japan’s earthquake and tsunami, the abnormal strength of the yen, and financial turmoil in Europe.”
Source: Renault
