Renault-Nissan alliance’s global sales down

Japan’s Nissan Motor Co. and France’s Renault SA said they generated combined global sales of 6,090,304 vehicles in 2008, down 1.1% from a year earlier, while total vehicle sales worldwide fell 5%. Renault sold 2,382,230 vehicles worldwide, down 4.1%, whereas Nissan’s sales grew by 0.9% to 3,708,074 units. Together, the Renault-Nissan alliance captured 9.4% of the global vehicle market, up 0.3% from 2007. The partnership saw its sales fall 6.8% to 1,788,133 vehicles in Western Europe due to the economic crisis, but sales in Central and Eastern Europe rose by 3.2% to 714,949 units as both carmakers turned in a strong sales performance in Russia. In North America, where Renault does not have a presence, Nissan sold 1,034,801 units, down 9.6%. The two firms’ sales in Japan slid 6.0% to 680,377 units. Nissan’s sales volume in its home market dropped 5.9% to 678,126, its lowest since 1980. In Latin and South America, the two companies’ sales climbed 2.8% to 581,170 vehicles, with Renault’s sales in Brazil soaring 56.4% to a record 115,000 units. The partners saw their sales in the Middle East and Africa jump 33.7% to 396,542 units with demand particularly strong in the Middle East. Their sales in the Asia-Pacific region grew 9.3% to 894,332 vehicles. Nissan’s sales in China rose by 19.1%. (February 4, 2009)