Nissan Europe reports August sales

Trappes, France, September 08 -- Nissan Europe reported total sales of 30,594 vehicles (1) in August 2003, an increase of 8.8% over the same month last year, in a market declining by 4%, down to 893,129 units (2).

In the eight month period from January to August 2003, Nissan Europe sold 343,858 units, 7.8% up from last year, in the context of a total industry volume decline of 2%.

Highlights by country

- Nissan in France sold 2,400 units in August, registering a 8.7% increase compared to last year. In the eight month period from January to August 2003, Nissan sold 29,340 units in France, up by 26.3% compared to last year.

- In Germany, Nissan sold 5,103 units in August, representing an increase of 1.8% compared to last year. In the eight month period from January to August 2003, Nissan sold 43,536 units in Germany, 5.1% up from last year.

- In Italy, Nissan sold 3,133 units in August, up 33.2% against last year. In the eight month period from January to August 2003, Nissan sales in Italy rose to 48,289 units, up by 17.3% compared to last year.

- Nissan in Spain sold 3,830 units in August, up 10.8% compared to last year. In the eight month period from January to August 2003, Nissan sales in Spain rose to 38,771 units up by 3% compared to last year.

- In the UK, Nissan sold 3,086 units, a decrease of 20.8% compared to last year. In the eight month period from January to August 2003, Nissan's UK sales rose to 67,827 units, up 0.6% compared to last year.

Model highlights

- The Micra was Nissan's best-selling European model with a total of 9,003 unit sales in August. In the eight month period from January to August 2003, total Micra sales reached 113,609 units, up by 62% compared to last year.

- X-TRAIL sales increased by 18.4% in August against the same month last year to 3,302 units. Year-to-date sales rose 43.6% to 31,712 units. On the SUV segment, X-TRAIL is the third best seller in Europe.

- Sales of the Nissan Pickup increased by 47.5% to 3,342 units in August, compared to the same month last year. Since the beginning of the year, Nissan has sold 24,520 Pickup, a 37.5% increase against 2002. On the pick up segment, the Nissan Pickup is the second best seller in Europe.

Nissan employs around 12,000 people in its European design, research and development, production, logistics, and sales and marketing operations. Last year, the company produced a total of 382,638 vehicles in its Spanish and British plants and sold 474,000 vehicles in Europe. Nissan Europe's Head Office is based in Trappes (Paris), France.

Editor's Notes:

1. The sales figures used are retail sales figures for all of Nissan Europe's markets including the UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Holland, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, Greece, Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Cyprus, Malta, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, the Adriatic States, Bulgaria, the Baltic States, Ukraine, the Commonwealth of Independent States, Turkey, Israel and the French Overseas Territories.

2. The total industry volumes are based on the Western European figures comprising the European Union States plus Switzerland, Norway and Iceland.

For further information, please contact: Frank Shepherd, Corporate Communications, Nissan Europe +33 1 30 13 67 65 E-mail: fshepherd@nissan-europe.com Gilles Gautherot, Corporate Communications, Nissan Europe +33 1 30 13 67 67 E-mail: ggautherot@nissan-europe.com