Tokyo -- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., today released production, sales and export figures for December 2004 and calendar year 2004.
2004 Production
Nissan produced a record number of vehicles in 2004, with global production rising 8.0% compared with the previous year to 3,194,119 units.
In Japan, production dropped 2.2% to 1,439,007 units after Nissan suspended output at three of its four vehicle assembly plants due to a temporary steel shortage. The plants were halted for a total of five days in November and December and affected about 25,000 units.
Overseas production climbed 18.1% to a record 1,755,112 units. Production in the US jumped 44.5% to 754,716 units due to strong sales of the Altima mid-size sedan, the Armada sport utility vehicle (SUV), the Frontier mid-size pickup truck, and the Titan full-size pickup truck. In Mexico, production rose 5.4% from the previous year to 325,086 units helped by strong sales of the Sentra sedan.
In Europe, output in the UK fell 3.7% to 319,652 units, while in Spain strong demand for the Primastar commercial vehicle boosted output by 22.6% to 142,889 units.
December Production
Nissan's global production in December climbed 2.5% to 228,144 units compared with the same month a year earlier.
In Japan, production fell 12.1% in December to 93,905 units. Despite the introduction of new models, including the Murano crossover SUV, the Tiida compact car and the Fuga luxury sedan, production was lower compared with the previous year due to the production suspensions in early December.
Overseas production, however, rose 16.1% to 134,239 units. In the US, production jumped 27.6% to 61,479 units on the back of strong sales of the Altima, the new Frontier and the new Pathfinder. Production in Mexico increased 40.6% to 27,220 units due to strong sales of the Sentra and the Platina compact car.
In the UK, slower sales of the Micra compact car (March in Japan) led year-on-year production to fall 25.6% to 16,006 units. Production in Spain rose 4.2% to 9,818 units due to strong sales of the Primastar.
2004 Sales
In Japan, Nissan's registrations in 2004 fell 4.9% to 743,067 units due to the lack of new models in the first half of the year. Nissan's share of the domestic registered vehicle market amounted to 18.8%, down 0.6 percentage point. Including minivehicles, Nissan's domestic sales rose 0.2% to 826,822 units. Its share of the market remained unchanged at 14.1%.
In the US, sales increased 24.1% to a record 985,989 units, with both the Nissan and Infiniti brands reaching their highest levels ever. Nissan brand sales rose 26.5% to 855,002 units led by the Altima, the Murano, the Quest minivan, the Armada and the Titan. Sales at the Infiniti luxury division rose 10.4% to 130,987 units led by the G35 sport sedan, the QX56 full-size SUV and the FX crossover SUV.
In Canada, Nissan's sales fell 0.1% to 69,454 units, while in Mexico sales grew 9.7% to 234,853 units.
In Europe, sales climbed 0.3% to 543,948 units. Strong sales of the X‑TRAIL, as well as the Kubistar and Primastar commercial vehicles helped offset a lack of new passenger vehicles.
December Sales
Nissan's domestic registrations in December rose 3.9% compared with a year earlier to 54,006 units. Its share of the market grew 0.2 percentage point to 17.8%, boosted by strong sales of new models including the Tiida, the Fuga and the Lafesta minivan. Including minivehicles, Nissan's domestic sales in December rose 4.3% to 60,131 units, while its market share grew 0.2 percentage point to 13.4%.
In the US, Nissan's December sales rose 37.8% to 92,268 units. The Altima, the new Pathfinder and the Titan sustained their high sales levels, leading to record sales for the month of December.
In Europe, Nissan's sales totaled 45,531 units, down 8.0%. While sales of the X‑TRAIL were strong, slower sales of the Micra weighed on the results.
2004 Japan Exports
Nissan's exports in 2004 advanced 2.9% over the previous year to 728,929 units. While exports to North America declined 2.5% to 264,340 units, exports to Europe rose 23.9% to 133,690 units helped by strong sales of the X‑TRAIL.
Meanwhile, exports to Latin America climbed 27.5% to 64,574 units and exports to Oceania increased 5.5% to 69,820 units. Exports to Asian markets fell 0.5% to 100,479 units.
December Japan Exports
Nissan's exports in December dropped 18.4% from the same month a year ago to 52,881 units. Shipments to North America fell 7.3% to 21,332 units after production of the new Pathfinder was shifted to Nissan's Smyrna plant in Tennessee. Exports to Europe rose 7.1% to 9,844 units propelled by robust sales of the X‑TRAIL and other models.
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