TOKYO (April 27, 2005) - Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., today announced production, sales and export figures for March 2005 and fiscal year 2004, which ended March 31, 2005.
1. Production
March
Nissans global production grew 14.3% over a year earlier to 345,452 units, its highest monthly level ever.
Production in Japan rose 7.0% from a year ago to 155,381 units. Strong sales of the new models released since last fall contributed to the increased output in Japan.
Overseas production in March rose a significant 21.0% from a year ago to 190,071 units, its highest monthly level ever.
Output in the U.S. grew 24.7% from a year ago to 88,091 units, fueled by robust sales of the Altima midsize sedan and the new Pathfinder midsize SUV, among other models.
Production in the U.K. dropped 9.5% from a year earlier to 29,563 units, due mainly to lower output of the Micra (March in Japan) and the Primera. Production in Spain rose 31.2% from a year ago to 17,155 units, driven by brisk sales of the new Pathfinder.
In other regions, production rose a significant 51.1% from a year ago to 27,016 units. Production in China soared 136.3% to 12,278 units.
FY 2004
Nissan's global production in fiscal year 2004 registered year-on-year growth of 8.2%, rising to 3,313,959 units, surpassing the 3-million unit mark for the second consecutive year and achieving the highest level ever for fiscal-year output.
In Japan, production increased 0.4% from a year earlier to 1,481,563 units. Healthy sales of the new models and the X‑TRAIL supplemented the decrease in current models.
Overseas production climbed 15.5% from a year ago to 1,832,396 units, the highest ever for fiscal-year output.
In the U.S., production climbed 29.7% from the prior year to 803,556 units, reflecting fast-moving sales of the Titan full-size truck, significant growth in Altima sales, and the transfer of production of the Pathfinder from Japan to the Smyrna plant in September 2004.
Production in Mexico increased 12.5% from a year ago to 341,028 units, driven by the high popularity of the Sentra.
In Europe, production in the U.K. declined 8.6% from a year ago to 309,303 units due to lower output of the Micra. Production in Spain grew 21.3% from the prior year to 149,324 units.
In other regions, production rose 13.2% to 229,185 units. Production in China increased 17.3% to 71,610 units.
2. Sales
March
Nissans domestic registrations rose 5.4% from a year ago to 123,149 units due to the strong sales performance of the new models introduced since last fall. In March, the Note, Tiida, Cube and March were among the top 10 best-selling passenger car models in Japan for the second consecutive month. Nissan's share of the domestic registered vehicle market in March amounted to 21.7%, up 1.4 percentage points from the corresponding month of the previous year.
Nissan's March domestic sales, including mini-vehicles, rose 4.0% from a year ago to 134,291 units. Nissans market share market grew 0.9 percentage point to 16.1%.
In the U.S., Nissans March sales surged 16.9% from a year ago to 105,804 units, the best March results ever. Nissan brand sales rose 18.1% to 92,221 units, driven mainly by higher sales volumes of the Pathfinder and the Titan. Sales of the Infiniti luxury brand were up 9.3% to 13,583 units, boosted by solid demand for the Infiniti M45/35 (Fuga in Japan) that went on sale in March.
Nissan's sales in Europe amounted to 60,644 units, about the same level as in the previous year, due to the popularity of the Pathfinder and the Murano launched earlier this year and despite lower sales volumes of the Micra and the Primera.
FY 2004
Nissan's domestic registrations in FY 2004 fell 2.7% from the previous fiscal year to 759,760 units. The stagnation of the number of sales in the first half influenced the latter half of fiscal year 2004 despite strong sales of new models. Nissan's share of the domestic registered vehicle market slipped 0.1 percentage point from the previous fiscal year to 19.3%.
Nissan's domestic sales, including mini-vehicles, advanced 1.4% to 848,267 units. Sales of the Moco and the Clipper continued firm. Nissan's share of the domestic market, including the mini-vehicle segment, edged up 0.4 percentage point to 14.6%.
In the U.S., sales rose 18.4% from the previous year to 1,013,295 units, and Nissans U.S. sales topped the 1 million-unit mark for the first time. Nissan brand sales jumped 21.7% to 881,553 units, due to strong sales of trucks such as the Frontier and the Pathfinder and the Altimas continued significant contribution to higher passenger car sales. Sales of the Infiniti brand rose 7.2% to a record 131,742 units, following the previous record set in FY 2003.
In both Canada and Mexico, Nissan's sales surpassed last year's levels. Sales in Canada increased 0.3% to 70,044 units, and sales in Mexico were up 7.6% to 234,358 units.
Sales in Europe declined 2.1% from a year ago to 538,420 units. Strong sales of X‑TRAIL and Primastar supplemented the decrease in Micra and Primera sales.
3. Exports
March
Nissan's exports in March fell 10.4% from a year ago to 58,518 units, affected by lower shipments to North America and China.
FY 2004
Nissan's exports advanced 0.4% over the previous fiscal year to 721,839 units.
Shipments to North America came to 256,509 units, about the same level as in the previous year.
Exports to Europe grew 12.9% to 131,250 units, supported by the X‑TRAIL and the Murano that was launched earlier this year.
As for shipments to other regions, exports to Latin America advanced 25.6% to 67,539 units, exports to Oceania grew 5.9% to 69,136 units, and exports to Asia dropped 17.5% to 92,792 units due to the decrease of exports to China.
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