NISSAN has reported a remarkable 174 per cent increase in sales of its LCV range in 2011 compared with 2010.
It sold 10,854 commercial vehicles, which equates to a 4.2 per cent share of the total light commercial vehicle (LCV) market, compared with 6,223 sales and a 2.8 per cent market share in 2010.
Three models helped contribute to the overall sales success: the Primastar (up 201 per cent to 1,366), the NV200 (up 191 per cent to 2,529) and the Navara (up 187 per cent to 6,289).
Sales to the retail sector, which includes small businesses, saw the biggest sales success, with LCV sales up 203 per cent to 4,267 in 2011, a 6.1 per cent market share.
Fleet performance was also strong generating 6,587 sales, a 159 per cent increase over 2010, representing a 3.5 per cent share of the sector.
Explaining this healthy sales success in 2011, Francis Bleasdale, Nissan Motor GB’s LCV sales and marketing director, said: ‘A great hunger and performance from our dealer network, in particular our 57 business centre dealers, some excellent retail finance offers and a renewed interest in the Nissan LCV range from the fleet sector can all take credit for this excellent sales growth.
‘All of this was achieved with minimal sales of our new NV400 panel van range, which was only launched in November 2011.’
Bleasdale has high hopes of continued growth in 2012. ‘There are signs that fleets in particular are starting to replace their LCVs after extending replacement cycles during 2009 and 2010 which should help fuel sales.
‘And our dealer network is also reporting a strong demand for used Nissan LCVs,’ he added.