(January 12, 2012) Nissan today confirmed it smashed its sales record for Europe in 2011, achieving best ever market share in the region and surpassing 2010 by more than 140,000 units.

In the 2011 calendar year Nissan posted European sales of 695,702 units, a full 25 percent up on Nissan's previous record of 2010.

This resulted in an average market share over the January-December period of 3.7 percent, setting yet another record and topping 2010 by 0.6 percent. The year also ended strongly with December sales of 57,493 units, meaning Nissan out-sold its 2010 total in each month of 2011.

Nissan says its 2011 performance signifies the company is firmly on track to achieve its ambition of becoming the largest Asian brand by volume in Europe by 2016, as part of its 'Nissan Power 88' mid term plan announced in June last year.

Paul Willcox, senior vice president Sales & Marketing in Europe said, "Despite the significant challenges we faced in 2011, including the devastating earthquake in Japan, Nissan has never been stronger in Europe. We are already established as the top Asian brand in key markets including the UK, France, Italy and Spain.

2011 Nissan Qashqais

"This performance is being driven by segment-defining models designed, engineered and built in Europe, for Europe. Overall, Nissan produces around 70 percent of vehicles sold within the region at plants in the UK, Spain and Russia, this ensures our line-up is attuned to European expectations in terms of style, quality, performance and reliability.

"This includes the 430,000 Qashqais and Jukes manufactured at our plant in Sunderland in 2011, cementing Nissan's position as the undisputed 'number one' crossover manufacturer - a market segment we pioneered and one we still lead today.

"We are also the leading Electric Vehicle manufacturer having launched the Nissan Leaf in a growing number of European countries throughout 2011.

"This revolutionary car is bringing more and more people to the Nissan brand. Firstly through its merits as a fantastic product, but also by demonstrating our willingness and enthusiasm to innovate to continually bring fresh ideas to the market."

The main contributor in 2011 was the Sunderland-built family of crossovers, with Qashqai achieving more than 250,000 sales (including the 7-seat 'Qashqai +2' derivative) and Juke securing over 123,000 sales in its first full year of production.