(October 7, 2011) ROLLE, Switzerland — Today Nissan announced its highest ever market share in Europe, breaking a 16-year old record. Following strong performances across all major markets, Nissan achieved an overall September market share of 4.2% — a record in Europe and almost a full percentage point up on 2010. Nissan's previous highest market share was 4.1% achieved in August 1995.

The record month shows the company is on track to achieve one of the challenges contained in its "Nissan Power 88" mid term plan, to establish Nissan as the largest volume Asian brand in Europe by 2016.

September sales totaled 73,713 units (nearly 17,500 units up year-on-year) driven by robust sales of Nissan's crossover family of vehicles, including Qashqai with 23,000 sales and Juke with more than 14,000 sales, its highest monthly volume to date by almost 3,000 units.

Nissan Juke — Best seller in Europe

Nissan's broad range of SUVs also contributed to the record month with the Barcelona-built Pathfinder tripling year-on-year sales; the Navara pickup — also produced in Spain — up 44% and X-TRAIL up 14% with over 3,000 sales.

Calendar year to date, Nissan has now broken the half a million barrier having sold around 521,000 units, more than 117,000 over the same period in 2010.

Nissan's largest markets in September were the UK, with more than 19,000 sales, and Russia with over 13,000 sales and a 5.5% share of the market. Nissan remains the largest Japanese manufacturer in both the UK and Russia, as well as Spain.

Elsewhere, all key markets within the region enjoyed a very strong month compared to 2010, with France up 19%; Spain up 29%; Germany up 47% and Italy up 60%.

Guillaume Cartier, Nissan VP for Sales Operations in Europe said: "Last month we performed exceptionally across our entire model range and in all our main markets. We not only broke our all time market share record, but also achieved our highest ever September sales volume, out-selling all other Asian manufacturers in the region.