- Pioneering Nissan Qashqai – the original urban crossover – turns 10 in February
- Qashqai is first to celebrate key milestone because it invented the segment
- Launched in February 2007, Qashqai remains Europe's most popular crossover
- Global sales of 3.3 million units across 137 markets
ROLLE, Switzerland – February 2017 marks exactly 10 years since the Nissan Qashqai crossover first went on sale, and the brand is celebrating in style. Customer events and media activities are taking place across Europe to mark the occasion.
Nissan is the first brand to reach the 10-year milestone for one simple reason: The Qashqai is the model that pioneered the crossover segment as the automotive industry and car-buying consumers know it today.
A decade ago, there was no vehicle that successfully mixed the practicality and desirability of an SUV with the size, efficiency and dynamic performance of a compact hatchback.
The Qashqai's innovative design and versatile packaging started life in 2002, during the development process for what was originally intended to be the new Nissan Almera. The creative team decided to go back to the drawing board and conceived a car that truly reflected what buyers were looking for, and delivered on Nissan's brand promise – Innovation & Excitement for Everyone.
The first generation of the Nissan Qashqai went on sale in February 2007 and was an instant success. Close to 100,000 examples were sold across Europe before the end of the year, and Nissan has never looked back.
In 10 years of the Qashqai, more than 2.3 million examples have been sold in Europe, which makes it the region's best-selling crossover. The car has won more than 80 awards, including 19 recognizing it as the "Car of the Year."
"When the Qashqai launched in 2007, it was unique in the market place," said Paul Willcox, chairman of Nissan Europe. "It has remained as the number one crossover because it has stayed true to its original ideals, and because we have innovated and consistently added technology through the life of the car."
That process of ongoing improvement to the Qashqai is perfectly illustrated by the addition of Around View Monitor, Nissan's acclaimed 360-degree parking camera technology. It was added to the Qashqai in 2010, when the car received many mid-lifecycle enhancements. Similarly, in 2014 with the launch of the second-generation Qashqai, Intelligent Park Assist was integrated.
Nissan's pioneering spirit has unquestionably changed the European car market. In the decade since the Qashqai was launched, C-segment crossover sales in Europe have gone from zero to 2.6 units in 2016 alone. Almost all mainstream automotive brands now have a Qashqai rival, with 21 direct competitors in the market place. However, the inventor of the segment remains the number one model.
In 2016 Nissan sold 261,429 Qashqai in Europe (including Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan). This is a 10 percent market share, and represents 5.2 percent growth over the previous 12 months.
Success has spread beyond Europe, with global sales of the Nissan Qashqai standing at 3.3 million units across 137 countries worldwide over the 10 years. Today the Qashqai is on sale in 99 markets.
Further press releases and media assets to support the Nissan Qashqai's 10th anniversary will be released in the coming weeks. All will be made available on the Nissan Europe Newsroom at Newsroom.Nissan-Europe.com.
About Nissan in Europe
Nissan has one of the most comprehensive European presences of any overseas manufacturer, employing more than 17,000 staff across locally-based design, research & development, manufacturing, logistics and sales & marketing operations. Last year Nissan plants in the UK, Spain and Russia produced more than 635,000 vehicles including award-winning crossovers, commercial vehicles and the Nissan LEAF, the world's most popular electric vehicle. Pursuing a goal of zero emissions and zero fatalities on the road, Nissan recently announced its Intelligent Mobility vision. Designed to guide Nissan's product and technology pipeline, this 360 degree approach to the future of mobility will anchor critical company decisions around how cars are powered, how cars are driven, and how cars integrate into society. Nissan is positioned to become the most desirable Asian brand in Europe.
About Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
Nissan is a global full-line vehicle manufacturer that sells more than 60 models under the Nissan, Infiniti and Datsun brands. In fiscal year 2015, the company sold more than 5.4 million vehicles globally, generating revenue of 12.2 trillion yen. Nissan engineers, manufactures and markets the world's best-selling all-electric vehicle in history, the Nissan LEAF. Nissan's global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan manages operations in six regions: ASEAN & Oceania; Africa, Middle East & India; China; Europe; Latin America and North America. Nissan has been partnered with French manufacturer Renault since 1999 and Mitsubishi Motors since 2016 under the Renault-Nissan Alliance.
For more information on our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit our website at http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/. You can also follow @NissanMotor on Twitter.
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Contact
Richard Yarrow
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richard.yarrow@nissan.co.uk
Phone: +44 (0)7966 507759
Steve McLennan
General Manager - Product Communications
Steve.McLennan@nissan.co.uk