NISSAN dealers in Europe sold 35 per cent more cars between January and May 2011 compared to the same period last year.

Total European sales for the period amounted to more than 294,000 units.

In May, Nissan sold more than 58,000 vehicles, representing a 37 per cent year-on-year increase, and in percentage terms nearly three times the rise in overall customer demand within the region last month.

Locally-built models have fuelled this demand – Qashqai and Note in Sunderland and the Barcelona-built Navara pickup and NV200 small van.

All these models posted significant year-on-year sales increases contributing to Nissan’s 3.5 per cent European market share for May. Calendar year-to-date, Nissan now has a 3.7 per cent share of the market.

‘We are now seeing the reward for this effort’

Bernard Loire, Vice President Sales Operations Europe, said: ‘We sold nearly 16,000 additional vehicles last month compared to May 2010, which is outstanding.

‘The last few months have been particularly challenging for the industry. At Nissan we have prioritized supplying vehicles to our customers as quickly and efficiently as possible, and we are now seeing the reward for this effort.’

Top performing markets in May included Russia – where sales more than doubled year-on-year to nearly 12,500 units – France, up 38 per cent and the UK.