NOW 2012 has drawn to a close, I would like to look back at what we achieved and to ask you to reflect on this success with pride.
The year ended with NMGB delivering its best-ever volume and share performance since the establishment of the company some 21 years ago. Back in 2003 when the UK Total Industry Volume reached its highest point at 2.7 million units, Nissan sold just over 114,000 vehicles.
In 2011, we sold more than 107,000 in a market of 2.2 million, giving us a share of 4.89 per cent. In 2012, we sold more than 116,000 vehicles and grew our share by 0.25 per cent to 5.1 per cent.
This is exceptional in a business as mature as ours, especially when you consider this has been achieved without new product launches. It’s a tribute to the hard work and dedication of the team at NMGB and the efforts of the network as a whole.
For me the year had several highlights.
- In the last full year of the current Qashqai’s life, this breakthrough product sold some 46,000 units – 7,000 more than last year.
- Juke, which is only two years old as a brand in its own right, sold some 7,000 more than last year at 27,000 units. Qashqai is the sixth best-selling car in the UK and Juke is the sixth best-selling car in the B segment.
- Our LCV operation did its bit for the company too. We sold more than 3,500 NV200s in 2012, roughly 1,000 more than the previous year.
For all of this I would like to thank and congratulate everyone in the team.
For us at NMGB however, the financial year has still three months left to run. As you know, at a global level, the business faces many headwinds, particularly in China and southern Europe.
In our latest forecast, NMGB has our volume in the last quarter at just under 40,000 cars, the highest in our history. Delivery of this is vitally importance to the European business as a whole to achieve its profit and share commitments.
The company is counting on us to make sure this happens. Let’s keep breaking records. Over the next few years I anticipate many more will fall.
Best wishes to all of you and your families for 2013.