Nissan production and sales results for June 2002 and the first half of CY 2002

 Tokyo - Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today reported production, sales and export figures for June and the first half of calendar year 2002. Domestic production in the first half of 2002 increased for the first time in five years compared with the same period of previous years. Moreover, the four categories of domestic production, overseas production, domestic sales and exports from Japan increased simultaneously in the first half of 2002 for the first time in seven years.

Production

Nissan's global production in June showed the fourth straight month of year-on-year growth, rising to 223,251 units, up 3.7% from a year ago.

Domestic production in June came to 108,268 units, up 1.5% over last year. The increase was driven by orders for the new March and the new Elgrand in Japan and exports of the X‑TRAIL to various overseas markets.

Nissan's overseas production in June totaled 114,983 units, up 5.9% over June 2001. Production in the U.S. increased substantially by 17.5% on continued strong demand for the new Altima. Production in Mexico increased 23.0% over the same month last year to meet the strong demand for the Platina, which was jointly developed with Renault and launched this May. In the U.K., production was down 5.4%, owing to the effect of the Micra being in the final stage of the model cycle, though output of the new Primera remained steady.

For the first half of CY 2002, Nissan's global production was up 6.5% to 1,344,515 units compared with the previous year.

Domestic production in the first half of CY 2002 totaled 664,645 units, up 4.7% over the same period last year. In addition to brisk domestic sales of the new March, Wingroad and Serena, increased output of the X‑TRAIL and Skyline (Infiniti G35) for overseas markets helped to boost production.

Production in the U.S. for the first half of CY 2002 rose 39.8% over the same period a year earlier, thanks to strong sales of the new Altima and the notable sales increases recorded by the Frontier and Xterra. Production in Mexico posted a 10.1% increase for the first six months. In the U.K., meanwhile, the new Primera launched at the beginning of this year contributed to a rise in output of 0.2%.

Sales

Domestic registrations in June totaled 62,964 units, up 0.6% over the same month last year and marking the third straight month of year-on-year growth. Newly introduced models continued to record high sales levels, including the new March that saw sales nearly triple over the same month a year ago and the new Elgrand that exceeded its sales target by more than twofold. Moreover, sales of the Wingroad and Serena also remained strong. Nissan's domestic market share in June stood at 18.9%, 1.8 points higher than in June 2001.

Domestic sales, including minicars, came to 68,679 units in June, a gain of 9.8% over the same month last year. The new Moco minicar posted monthly sales of 5,715 units.

Nissan's sales in the U.S. in June were off 3.8% compared with June 2001. However, the new Altima, named North American Car of the Year in January, continued to sell briskly, setting a new sales record for the single month of June. Infiniti sales rose markedly by 18.6% over June 2001, thanks to popular demand for the G35. June sales in Canada were up 37.4% over a year ago, and sales in Mexico were 30.0% higher than in the same month last year.

In Europe, sales were down 11.2% from June 2001. Despite steady sales of the new Primera whose 5 door model was rolled out in June and the new X‑TRAIL, a decline in sales of the Mirca, now in the final stage of its model cycle, influenced the overall drop.

Nissan's domestic sales in the first half of CY 2002 totaled 398,026 units, a gain of 0.5% over the same period last year. The new generations of the March and Stagea and the facelifted Serena and Wingroad showed brisk sales, among other models. In addition, strong sales of the Moco, Nissan's first-ever entry in the minicar market, also contributed to the increase. Domestic registrations in the first six months totaled 383,467 units, off 3.1% from a year earlier, due to the contraction of the overall market. Yet, Nissan's share of domestic registrations came to 19.0%, an advance of 0.5 point over the same period last year.

For the first half of CY 2002 in the U.S., Nissan posted sales of 375,626 units, up 6.9% over the first six months of 2001. This year-on-year increase was propelled by continued brisk demand for the Altima and the new model effect of the Infiniti G35 that was launched at the beginning of the year. Sales in Canada also rose 25.2%, and sales in Mexico advanced 18.4% over the same period a year ago.

Nissan's sales in Europe during the first half of CY 2002 stood at 251,202 units, down 9.4% from the same period last year.

Exports from Japan

Nissan's exports in June showed the fifth consecutive month of year-on-year growth, rising to 54,072 units, up 28.5% over the same month a year ago. Shipments were notably strong for the X‑TRAIL that was newly launched for export markets, particularly Europe, the Infiniti G35 to the U.S. and the Pickup to the Middle East. Exports of the Cefiro and the X‑TRAIL to China rose sharply on the back of strong sales of these models in that market.

Nissan's exports for the first half of CY 2002 totaled 301,025 units, a gain of 21.5% over the same period in 2001 and marking the first time in four years that the first-half figure has exceeded the previous year's level. Shipments of the X‑TRAIL to various overseas markets, the Infiniti G35 to the U.S. and the Pickup to the Middle East continued at high levels. As a result, excluding shipments to the Asian region, which were affected by the safeguard measures imposed on imports by China at the beginning of the year, exports to all other regions rose by double digits over the same period last year.

Global Production by Country

*1 Others include production in Taiwan, Thailand, Philippines, South Africa and China excluding CKD production

Global Unit Sales by Main Market (Region)

*2 Japan sales are categorized into passenger cars and commercial vehicles based on chassis.
*3 U.S. sales are based on retail including Hawaii.
     DSR (daily selling rate)-adjusted year-on-year change in June is -0.1%.
     Nissan Division: 54,361 units
     Infiniti Division: 6,971 units
*4 Canada and Mexico sales are based on retail.
*5 North America sales are based on retail including Guam, Saipan and other islands.
*6 Europe sales are based on retail in the whole Europe including Turkey and Israel from the April 2002 results.

Vehicle Exports from Japan

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