Twelve million new vehicles will be sold in the US in 2010, a 15% year on year increase as the economic recovery continues, Nissan Motor chief executive Carlos Ghosn has said.

The US, which was passed by China last year to be the largest market, will never again regain its crown, Ghosn told the Wall Street Journal.

European sales have been better than forecast so far this year, but may be dragged lower if the debt crisis in Greece pulls down the regional economy.