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Nissan U.S. March 2010 Sales Increase 43.3 Percent


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SEE ALSO: Nissan Buyers Guide
SEE ALSO: Infiniti Buyers Guide

Nissan sales grow 44 percent; Infiniti up 37.3 percent

FRANKLIN, Tenn., April 1 -- Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today reported March 2010 sales of 95,468 units versus 66,634 units a year earlier, an increase of 43.3 percent, compared with March 2009.

"As the industry continues to show signs of life, we want to make sure that Nissan continues to get an even bigger piece of the sales pie," said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, NNA. "After achieving a record 9 percent share in the first two months of 2010, our 43 percent increase in March confirms Nissan is a big winner in the industry."

  NNA INFORMATION
  --  Combined Nissan and Infiniti sales of 95,468 units were 43.3 percent
      higher than March sales a year before of 66,634 units.
  --  To ensure consistency in global sales reporting, Nissan North America
      calculates monthly variances on a straight-percentage basis,
      unadjusted for the number of selling days. March 2010 had 26 selling
      days, compared with 25 selling days in March 2009.

  Nissan sales increase 44 percent on strength of both cars, trucks

Nissan Division sales totaled 85,526 units, an increase of 44 percent over March 2009. Nissan set a March record for car sales, including Versa, up 105.1 percent; Maxima, up 93.0 percent; and Altima, up 26.3 percent. Trucks also demonstrated strength, with most models showing double-digit percent increases over March 2009.

"The Nissan division saw sales in March at the highest rate since last August," said Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division. "We're particularly encouraged by the performance of core models like Altima, Versa, Sentra and Rogue, which drive our business."

  NISSAN HIGHLIGHTS
  --  Nissan vehicles posted sales of 85,526 units in March compared with
      59,392 units sold in March the previous year, a 44.0 percent increase.
  --  Nissan had a record March in passenger car sales, with 59,203 total
      units sold.
  --  Versa had its best March ever, with 13,811, up 105.1 percent.
  --  Rogue also set a March record with 8,395, up 20.2 percent.

  Infiniti has best month since August 2008, sparked by all-new 2011 M

Sales of Infiniti vehicles were 37.3 percent higher than a year before, totaling 9,942. The M, buoyed by the launch of the all-new 2011 model, was up 62.5 percent over last March. Sales of the G lineup increased 45.1 percent, and QX56 had another strong month, up 242.4 percent.

"With the launch of the 2011 M sedan, and the unveiling of the all-new 2011 QX this week in New York, this is the strongest Infiniti showroom yet," said Ben Poore, vice president, Infiniti Business Unit.

  INFINITI HIGHLIGHTS
  --  Infiniti sales for March 2010 were 9,942 units, up 37.3 percent from
      the 7,242 units sold in the same month a year earlier.  This was
      Infiniti's best sales month since August 2008.
  --  Infiniti M sales, boosted by the newly-released 2011 model, totaled
      1,440, up 62.5 percent.
  --  Sales of the G Sedan were up 44.5 percent to 4,021 units, and sales of
      the G Coupe rose 46.7 percent over last March, with 1,650 units.
  --  The QX56 full-size luxury SUV sales totaled 1,041, up 242.4 percent.

In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program 2010, whose key priorities are reducing CO2 emissions, cutting other emissions and increasing recycling. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.nissanusa.com and www.infinitiusa.com.

                          NISSAN and INFINITI U.S. VEHICLE SALES

  NISSAN DIVISION
  ---------------
                        March   March   Monthly   CYTD    CYTD    CYTD
                        -----   -----   -------   ----    ----    ----
                           2010    2009  % chg      2010    2009 % chg
                           ----    ----  -----      ----    ---- -----

  Nissan Division
   Total                 85,526  59,392     44.0 204,535 154,051    32.8
  ---------------        ------             ---- -------            ----
  Versa                  13,811   6,733    105.1  31,334  16,780    86.7
  -----                  ------   -----    -----  ------  ------    ----
  Sentra                  8,721   6,940     25.7  24,004  18,033    33.1
  ------                  -----   -----     ----  ------  ------    ----
  Cube                    4,218       0       NA   9,193       0      NA
  ----                    -----     ---      ---   -----     ---     ---
  Altima                 24,649  19,521     26.3  59,483  49,658    19.8
  ------                         ------     ----  ------  ------    ----
  Maxima                  6,622   3,431     93.0  15,939   8,875    79.6
  ------                  -----   -----     ----  ------   -----    ----
  350/370Z                1,095   1,632    -32.9   2,467   4,364   -43.5
  --------                -----   -----    -----   -----   -----   -----
  GT-R                       87     137    -36.5     225     400   -43.8
  ----                      ---     ---    -----     ---     ---   -----
  Total Car              59,203  38,394     54.2 142,645  98,110    45.4
  ---------              ------             ---- -------            ----
  Frontier                4,091   1,785    129.2   8,578   5,005    71.4
  --------                -----   -----    -----   -----   -----    ----
  Titan                   2,456   1,616     52.0   5,669   4,582    23.7
  -----                   -----   -----     ----   -----   -----    ----
  Xterra                  2,197   1,531     43.5   4,921   3,940    24.9
  ------                  -----   -----     ----   -----   -----    ----
  Pathfinder              1,880   1,637     14.8   4,948   4,682     5.7
  ----------              -----   -----     ----   -----   -----     ---
  Armada                  1,788     659    171.3   4,417   1,978   123.3
  ------                  -----     ---    -----   -----   -----   -----
  Rogue                   8,395   6,982     20.2  20,021  18,299     9.4
  -----                   -----   -----     ----  ------  ------     ---
  Murano                  5,490   5,815     -5.6  13,194  15,145   -12.9
  ------                  -----   -----     ----  ------  ------   -----
  Quest                      26     973    -97.3     142   2,310   -93.9
  -----                     ---     ---    -----     ---   -----   -----
  Total Truck            26,323  20,998     25.4  61,890  55,941    10.6
  -----------            ------  ------     ----  ------  ------    ----
  North American
   produced              66,241  44,826     47.8 159,435 115,843    37.6
  --------------         ------  ------     ---- ------- -------    ----
  Car                    53,803  36,625     46.9 130,760  93,346    40.1
  ---                    ------  ------     ---- -------  ------    ----
  Truck                  12,438   8,201     51.7  28,675  22,497    27.5
  -----                  ------   -----     ----  ------  ------    ----
  Import                 19,285  14,566     32.4  45,100  38,208    18.0
  ------                 ------  ------     ----  ------  ------    ----
  Car                     5,400   1,769    205.3  11,885   4,764   149.5
  ---                     -----   -----    -----  ------   -----   -----
  Truck                  13,885  12,797      8.5  33,215  33,444    -0.7
  -----                  ------  ------      ---  ------  ------    ----

  INFINITI DIVISION
  -----------------
                        March   March   Monthly   CYTD    CYTD    CYTD
                        -----   -----   -------   ----    ----    ----
                           2010    2009  % chg      2010    2009 % chg
                           ----    ----  -----      ----    ---- -----

  Infiniti Division
   Total                  9,942   7,242     37.3  23,694  20,716    14.4
  -----------------       -----             ----  ------            ----
  G Sedan                 4,021   2,782     44.5   9,387   7,536    24.6
  -------                 -----   -----     ----   -----   -----    ----
  G Coupe                 1,650   1,125     46.7   4,003   2,925    36.9
  -------                 -----   -----     ----   -----   -----    ----
  M                       1,440     886     62.5   3,129   3,169    -1.3
  ---                     -----     ---     ----   -----   -----    ----
  QX56                    1,041     304    242.4   2,513     794   216.5
  ----                    -----     ---    -----   -----     ---   -----
  EX                        726     906    -19.9   1,867   2,562   -27.1
  ---                       ---     ---    -----   -----   -----   -----
  FX                      1,064   1,239    -14.1   2,795   3,730   -25.1
  ---                     -----   -----    -----   -----   -----   -----
  Total Car               7,111   4,793     48.4  16,519  13,630    21.2
  ---------               -----   -----     ----  ------  ------    ----
  Total Truck             2,831   2,449     15.6   7,175   7,086     1.3
  -----------             -----   -----     ----   -----   -----     ---

  NISSAN & INFINITI
  -----------------
                        March   March   Monthly   CYTD    CYTD    CYTD
                        -----   -----   -------   ----    ----    ----
                           2010    2009  % chg      2010    2009 % chg
                           ----    ----  -----      ----    ---- -----

  TOTAL VEHICLE          95,468  66,634     43.3 228,229 174,767    30.6
  -------------          ------  ------     ---- ------- -------    ----
  Total Car              66,314  43,187     53.6 159,164 111,740    42.4
  ---------              ------  ------     ---- ------- -------    ----
  Total Truck            29,154  23,447     24.3  69,065  63,027     9.6
  -----------            ------  ------     ----  ------  ------     ---
  Selling days               26      25               74      75
  ------------              ---     ---              ---     ---

  * All numbers include Hawaii