Qashqai Hits 100,000 European Sales

Trappes, France (ots/PRNewswire) -

- Sales Reach 100,000 in Nine Months

Nissan's compact crossover, the Qashqai has just hit the landmark
of 100,000 customer sales in Europe.

Sales began in March and the 100,000th customer sale was completed
during the last week of November.

The UK, Russia and Italy are the Qashqai's three largest markets,
with sales at the end of November of 17,554, 15,376 and 10,746 units
respectively since launch. Furthermore, demand for Qashqai in
countries such as Austria, Holland, Portugal, Greece, Slovakia and
Norway has dramatically exceeded expectations.

Indeed, Qashqai has exceeded all sales forecasts since its launch
in March. To meet demand for the car in Europe, production was
increased by 20% in June at the factory in Sunderland, England, where
it is manufactured. And starting this month, the manufacture of the
Japanese version of Qashqai will be transferred from Sunderland to
Nissan's factory in Kyushu, Japan, freeing up extra production
capacity for Europe. Sales of Dualis in Japan, as it is badged in
that market, have also exceeded expectation, with total sales of over
18,000 sales since its introduction in May.

Initial European customer feedback shows that buyers like the
Qashqai for bringing something new to the market; for its strong,
distinctive design which sits between a traditional hatchback style
and a more robust, elevated SUV shape.

Qashqai buyers have consistently cited the premium quality
interior and overall design as key factors in changing brands to
Nissan. As anticipated, buyers of Qashqai typically used to drive a
compact hatchback, such as a Megane or Astra, an entry-level family
hatchback, such as a Laguna or Avensis, or an economy SUV, such as a
Kia Sportage or Hyundai Santa Fe.

The Qashqai was designed and developed in Europe following
extensive research of local market buying patterns and a deep
consumer analysis of unmet needs among car-buyers. Nissan Europe's
product planners identified an opportunity in the market to design
and develop a vehicle which provided more dynamic design, without the
perceived aggression of a compact SUV, yet maintained the elevated
driving position which is popular, but not at the expense of driving
enjoyment. The Qashqai is that model.

The Qashqai was designed at Nissan Design Europe, situated in
Paddington, London, while technical development was undertaken at its
technical centres in Cranfield, England, Barcelona, Spain and near
Bonn, Germany.

Qashqai Facts and Figures:

- In May, the car was awarded the maximum five-star rating for
adult occupant protection from the European New Car Assessment
Programme (Euro NCAP), with the highest ever recorded score for any
vehicle.

- On average, 850 Qashqais are built a day at Sunderland

- Each Qashqai receives 4608 spot-welds in construction,
administered by 298 robots

- 920 different combinations of Qashqai have been manufactured

- It takes 10.5 man hours to build a Qashqai (including bumper
mouldings and painting, and axle production)

- A Qashqai contains approximately 2750 components (depending on
specification)

- A Qashqai is 4.34m long, so if the 100,000 Qashqais were parked
in a line, it would stretch 434km.

- Distance from Nissan's Sunderland factory to Nissan Design
Europe, Paddington, London, where Qashqai was designed: 434km!

For further information, please contact:
Neil Reeve, Product Communications, Nissan Europe:
T :+33-130-13-67-57,
nreeve@nissan-europe.com.

ots Originaltext: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

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For further information, please contact: Neil Reeve, Product
Communications, Nissan Europe: T:+33-130-13-67-57,
nreeve@nissan-europe.com