The Renault-Nissan Alliance sold a record 8,029,222 units in 2011, a 10.3% increase year on year, boosted by “robust” sales in emerging markets and the United States.
Sales rose for the third consecutive year. Renault sold 2,722,062 units worldwide, up 3.6% from 2010. Nissan sold 4,669,981 units, up 14.4%. AvtoVAZ Lada accounted for 637,179 units, a 10.9 % increase.
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The alliance said it accounted for 10.7% of the global market last year up from 10.3% in 2010 – it estimated that 74,793,900 passenger cars and light commercial vehicles were sold in 2011.
“The alliance capitalised on the resurgence of the US economy and gained significant market share in the regions that will drive growth in the 21st century,” said CEO Carlos Ghosn. “Double-digit sales growth is solid progress – particularly during a year in which we faced Japan’s earthquake and tsunami, the abnormal strength of the yen, and financial turmoil in Europe.”
Renault
Renault posted record 2011 global sales of 2.7m units, up 3.6%, with 43% of those outside Europe. Sales outside Europe totaled a record 1,172,686 units, up 19.2%, driven by fast-expanding markets such as Russia (+40%), Turkey (+13%) and Latin America (+10%).
In terms of sales by brand, Renault led with 2,260,694 units sold, up 6.8%, and accounting for 83% of the group’s sales. Sales of Dacia fell 1.8% due to supply constraints caused by the tsunami in Japan. Renault Samsung Motors fell 27%.
Last year, six of the group’s top 10 markets were located outside Europe with Brazil replacing Germany as Renault’s second-biggest market after France. Renault’s sales in Brazil, where it plans to expand capacity in 2013, grew 21% to a record 194,300 units in a market that expanded 3%. Its market share was 5.7%, up 0.9% from 2010 led by demand for models such as the Sandero hatchback, Logan and Clio small cars.
In Russia, Renault posted both record sales and market share. Sales jumped 60% to 154,734 units, making it Renault’s fastest-growing market. Market share rose to 5.8%, up 0.7% from the previous year. Sales were led by the Logan, the Sandero and the Fluence luxury sedan.
Despite economic uncertainty and waning consumer confidence in Europe, Renault remained the second largest brand, taking an 8.6% share of the passenger car and light commercial vehicle (LCV) market. Its top-selling passenger cars in Europe were the medium-sized Megane, the Clio and the Twingo mini vehicle. Renault was also Europe’s light commercial vehicle leader for the 14th consecutive year with a 15.6% market share.
Nissan
The Japanese brand posted record global sales of 4.67m units in 2011, up 14.4% year on year.
In China, its largest market, the company posted record sales of 1,247,738 units, a 21.9% increase, led by strong sales of the Sunny and Teana sedans.
In the Americas, Nissan reported record sales of 1,561,230 units for Nissan and Infiniti brand vehicles throughout the region encompassing North, Central and South America, up 17.2% compared with the previous year. The Nissan brand gained a market share of 7.5%, up 0.6% points, becoming the second largest Asian automotive brand in the region.
The US, Mexico and Brazil posted the largest single-country gains. Sales in the US totaled a record 1,042,534 units, up 14.7%, led by the Mexican-built Versa compact car and the Rogue crossover currently imported from Japan. Market share in the US grew to 8.2%.
In Mexico, where Nissan will open a third plant in 2013 to support its rapid growth across the Americas, sales grew 18.6% while its market share grew to a record 24.8%.
In Brazil, where Nissan plans to build its first plant in Resende in 2014, sales nearly doubled to 67,097 units. It was Brazil’s fastest-growing automotive brand in 2011.
In Japan, Nissan reported sales of 591,312 units, down 8.4% year-on-year in a market that shrank 15%. Market share climbed 1% to 14%.
In Europe, Nissan posted record sales of 695,703 units, up 25.4% year-on-year thanks to booming demand for its UK-built Qashqai and Juke crossovers. Market share rose to a record 3.7%, up from 3.1% in 2010. In Russia, its top market in Europe, sales jumped by 73.1%, or nearly 60,000 units.
AvtoVAZ Lada
AvtoVAZ sold 637,179 units in 2011, up 10.9% year on year.
Sales in Russia were 578,387 units, up 10.6% compared with 2010. Its global market share was 0.9%, and its share in Russia was 21.6%.
Zero-emission
In October, Renault began sales of the Kangoo ZE small van. Corporate clients have so far ordered more than 15,000 for fleet use. In December, Renault began selling the Fluence ZE, an all-electric luxury car based on the combustion engine Fluence sedan.
In spring 2012, Renault will launch the Twizy zero-emission urban commuter vehicle. In the second half it will launch the ZOE zero-emission subcompact.
Nissan sold over 22,000 Nissan Leaf hatchbacks worldwide in 2011, claiming it is the best-selling electric vehicle ever.
It noted that over 80% of Leaf owners in the United States had never previously owned a Nissan and is expanding availability to all 50 American states and more European countries in 2012.
The alliance plans to sell a cumulative 1.5m zero-emission cars by 2016 across all its brands.
