Renault-Nissan Alliance Posts Sales Record in 2012 for 4th Straight Year

AsiaNet 52025

PARIS, Feb. 4 /PRN=KYODO JBN/ --

* Despite recession in Europe and slowing pace of sales in China, global sales

were a record 8.1 million units

* Strongest growth came from emerging markets and the United States

* Zero-emission sales up more than 80% from 2011

The Renault-Nissan Alliance sold a record 8,101,310 vehicles in 2012,

representing one in 10 new cars sold worldwide.

Calendar-year sales increased about 1% from 2011, with strong growth in

emerging markets and the US, compensating for the protracted European slowdown.

2012 was the fourth straight year of sales growth for the Renault-Nissan

Alliance.

Renault group sold 2,550,286 units worldwide in 2012, down 6.3% from 2011.

Renault group sales increased 9.1% outside Europe, thanks in part to strong

growth in Brazil, Russia, and Algeria. Sales declined 18% in Europe as car

sales throughout the continent dropped 8.6%.

Nissan sold 4,940,133 units, up 5.8%, setting a new calendar year record.

Nissan has two markets each exceeding 1 million units: China and the United

States.

AVTOVAZ sold 610,891 vehicles, down 5.5% from 2011 as a major Russian incentive

program came to an end. In December, the Renault-Nissan Alliance created a

joint venture to accelerate its market offensive in Russia where the Alliance

sells one in three cars nationwide.

"2012 was a challenging year due to the continued decline in Renault's historic

core market of western Europe and due to political tension in China, Nissan's

top market worldwide," said Renault-Nissan Chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn.

"Thanks to the American rebound and strong demand in emerging markets, we

maintained our market share and are very well positioned in global growth

markets."

Renault group highlights

Renault's group sales outside of Europe in 2012 set a record, climbing 9.1% to

1,279,598 units, thanks to the launch of new products and the company's

aggressive efforts to expand its strategic markets, particularly Brazil, Russia

and India.

2012 marked the first time that Renault group, which encompasses the Renault,

Dacia and Renault Samsung Motors brands, generated more than half its sales

outside Europe. Group sales outside of Europe accounted for 50.2% of the total

in 2012, up 7.1 percentage points from 43.1% in the previous year.

For the full release, go to:

http://www.media.blog.alliance-renault-nissan.com/news/3774

Source: Renault-Nissan Alliance