Nissan Europe reports best ever September sales with a 20% increase against 2002

Trappes, France, October 7 -- Nissan Europe has registered its best ever September sales. With total unit sales of 57,044 vehicles(1), sales increased 20% over the same month last year.

In the nine month period from January to September 2003, Nissan Europe sold 400,913 units, 9.4% up from last year.

The growth has been driven by successful new products such as the new Micra, as well as strong performance in the 4x4 sector with products such as X-TRAIL and Pickup.

HIGHLIGHTS BY COUNTRY

- Nissan in France sold 3,596 units in September with a market share of 1.93%, registering a 19.4% increase compared to last year. In the nine month period from January to September 2003, Nissan sold 32,936 units in France, up by 25.5% compared to last year.

- In Germany, Nissan sold 6,505 units in September with a market share of 2.4%, representing an increase of 6.7% compared to last year. In the nine month period from January to September 2003, Nissan sold 50,041 units in Germany, up 5.3% compared to last year.

- In Italy, Nissan sold 6,820 units in September with a market share of 3.17%, up 64% against last year. In the nine month period from January to September 2003, Nissan sold 55,109 units in Italy, up 21.6% compared to last year.

- Nissan in Spain sold 4,766 units in September with a market share of 3.68%, up 25% compared to last year. In the nine month period from January to September 2003, Nissan sold 43,537 units in Spain, up 5% compared to last year.

- In the UK, Nissan sold 20,994 units with a market share of 4.36%, an increase of 16.2% compared to last year. In the nine month period from January to September 2003, Nissan sold 88,821 units in the UK, up 3.9% compared to last year.

MODEL HIGHLIGHTS

- The Micra was Nissan's best-selling European model with a total of 21,387 unit sales in September. In the nine month period from January to September 2003, total Micra sales reached 134,997 units, up by 62.4% compared to last year.

- X-TRAIL sales increased by 29.7% in September against the same month last year to 5,523 units. Year-to-date sales rose 41.3% to 37,235 units.

- Sales of the Nissan Pickup increased by 26.3% to 4,249 units in September, compared to the same month last year. Since the beginning of the year, Nissan has sold 28,769 Pickup, a 35.7% increase against 2002.

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.

Notes to Editors:

(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

Frank Shepherd, Corporate Communications, Nissan Europe, tel +33 1 30 13 67 65 or email fshepherd@nissan-europe.com or Gilles Gautherot, Corporate Communications, Nissan Europe, +33 1 30 13 67 67 or email email ggautherot@nissan-europe.com