Nissan Qashqai Is One o The Top Ten Best Selling Cars In The UK

MAPLE CROSS, UNITED KINGDOM – June 4, 2009: Good news for Nissan and great news for the British car industry: the Nissan Qashqai has become one of the top ten best selling cars in the UK.

The latest SMMT car sales figures were released today, placing the unique Qashqai crossover model in ninth place in the top sellers list with a total of 2,629 buyers taking delivery in May. Finishing ahead of several mainstream rivals, the Qashqai has proved that when it comes to choosing the ultimate in style, practicality and value, drivers are voting with their feet.

Not only is it ninth in the overall sales chart, but the Qashqai has managed to increase its market share from 2.55 per cent to 6.64 per cent. In growing market share, Nissan is bucking the downward trend in the market. A total of 4,562 Nissan cars were sold in May – that’s only seven per cent down on 2008 in a market which is down 25 per cent.

What’s more, because every Qashqai is built at Nissan’s Sunderland plant, its success is a shot in the arm for UK manufacturing and the British economy. That’s why Nissan is offering further incentives for customers to buy British with its Trade-in and Scrappage schemes. As well as taking part in the government’s standard Scrappage scheme, Nissan is offering a £2,000 minimum trade-in against any of its Sunderland built models for owners of cars aged between 8-10 years old.

During 2008, one in every six cars built in the UK was a Qashqai, giving a solid foundation for the sales success of 2009.

Nissan’s UK MD, Paul Willcox comments: “We’re delighted with the Qashqai’s jump into the top ten best sellers list. We know it’s one of the strongest models on sale in the UK, and this result is proof that the car buying public agrees! Once again Nissan’s daring design has been rewarded, benefiting the UK manufacturing industry in the process.”

Nissan LCV sales have posted a similarly strong performance in May, resulting in total Nissan sales (including LCV) in the UK finishing only 12 per cent down on 2008 in a market which is down 28 per cent overall. As a result, Nissan’s overall market share in May (including LCV) has increased from 2.8 per cent to 3.37 per cent, with its share of the car market increasing from 2.7 per cent to 3.38 per cent.