The Renault-Nissan Alliance has announced sales of a record 8,470,610 vehicles in 2014 amid rising sales in the United States and Western Europe.
04 Feb 2015 | 3793 Views | By Autocar Professional Bureau
The Renault-Nissan Alliance has announced sales of a record 8,470,610 vehicles in 2014 amid rising sales in the United States and Western Europe. Sales rose for the fifth straight year, up 2.5 percent compared with the previous year. Together, Renault, Nissan and Avtovaz, Russia’s largest automaker, account for one in ...
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The Renault-Nissan Alliance has announced sales of a record 8,470,610 vehicles in 2014 amid rising sales in the United States and Western Europe. Sales rose for the fifth straight year, up 2.5 percent compared with the previous year. Together, Renault, Nissan and Avtovaz, Russia’s largest automaker, account for one in 10 cars sold worldwide.
“Robust demand in the United States, the recovery in Western Europe and an array of compelling new models contributed to another year of rising sales for the Alliance in 2014,” said Carlos Ghosn, Alliance chairman and CEO. “We remain well-positioned and optimistic about the long-term prospects in the global growth markets, despite the recent declines in Russia and Brazil.”
Renault SAS, Europe’s third-largest automaker, sold 2,712,432 vehicles worldwide in 2014, up 3.2 percent from 2013. In Western Europe, Renault sales totaled 1,464,611, up 12.5 percent, more than double the overall market. Renault’s market share in Europe reached 10 percent, up 0.6 percentage points. Dacia was Europe’s fastest-growing brand, gaining 0.4 percentage points of market share.
Renault sales outside Western Europe fell 5.9 percent to 1,247,821 vehicles due to the economic slowdown in many of its markets. Despite the slowdown, Renault posted its highest market share ever in Brazil and Russia, its second and third largest markets after France.
Nissan Motor sold a record 5,310,064 cars and trucks worldwide, up 4.1 percent. Nissan continued to sell more than a million vehicles in its two largest markets, the United States and China.
Avtovaz sold 448,114 vehicles, down 16.3 percent due to the overall market slowdown in Russia. The Renault-Nissan Alliance has a majority stake in Avtovaz, which sells cars under the Lada brand, through a joint venture with state corporation Rostec. Together, the Renault-Nissan Alliance and Avtovaz sell about one in three cars in Russia.
HOW THE ALLIANCE MARKETS FARED
The Alliance’s top 10 markets in 2014 were the United States, China, Russia, Japan, France, Mexico, Brazil, UK, Germany and Italy.
In China, the world’s largest auto market, Nissan, through its local partner Dongfeng Motor, sold 1,221,598 vehicles, up 0.5 percent. Nissan is the leading Japanese carmaker in China with a 5.5 percent market share. In 2016, Renault will start producing vehicles in China with Nissan’s long-term partner Dongfeng Motor. The new joint venture plant in Wuhan will have an initial production capacity of 150,000 vehicles a year, with the potential to double that figure in the future.
In the United States, Nissan sold a record 1,386,895 vehicles, up 11.1 percent, resulting in a record market share of 8.4 percent. Nissan also set annual sales records for Altima, Rogue, Versa, Juke, NV200 and the 100 percent electric Nissan Leaf.
Despite the economic downturn in Russia, the Alliance posted a market share of 30.7 percent, up 1.1 percentage points. Avtovaz sold 387,307 vehicles in Russia, down 15 percent; its market share stood at 15.5 percent, down 0.9 percentage points. Renault sold 194,531 vehicles, down 7.4 percent, but its market share grew to a record 7.9 percent, up 0.3 percentage points, thanks to the success of the Duster SUV and the successful launch of three new models: New Logan, New Sandero and Sandero Stepway. Nissan sold 182,412 vehicles, up 17.7 percent. Nissan held a market share of 7.3 percent, up 1.8 percentage points.
In Japan, Nissan’s home market, Nissan sold 670,263 vehicles, down 1.3 percent. Nissan’s market share stood at 12 percent.
In France, Renault’s home market, Renault sold 577,601 vehicles, up 5.5 percent. Its market share totaled 26.6 percent, up 1.3 percentage points. Clio was the best-selling car in the market, while Captur was the best-selling crossover.
In Mexico, Nissan posted record sales of 293,204 vehicles, up 10.9 percent, outpacing the overall industry. Nissan is the number one brand in Mexico with a market share of 25.8 percent.
In Brazil, Renault sold 237,187 vehicles, up 0.3 percent. Renault’s market share stood at a record 7.1 percent.
EV SALES UP 24 PERCENT
The Alliance sold 82,602 electric vehicles in 2014, up 24 percent compared with previous year, giving it a global market share of 56 percent. The Nissan Leaf was the world’s best-selling EV with 61,507 sales, while Renault led in Europe with 17,813 sales.
The Alliance has sold a cumulative 217,365 electric vehicles worldwide since December 2010, when the Leaf – the first mass-marketed Alliance EV - went on sale. The top markets for the Leaf are the United States with 72,322 vehicles sold since its launch, Japan with 48,641 sales and Europe with 33,481 sales. Meanwhile, Renault has sold a cumulative 56,499 electric vehicles worldwide since its first EV, the Kangoo Z.E., went on sale in October 2011.
The Alliance sells about one out of two electric vehicles worldwide, including Twizy, Renault’s two-seater urban commuter vehicle and the Nissan e-NV200 van on sale in Europe and Japan since 2014.