Nissan Production, Sales and Export Results for April 2003
Production
Nissan's global production in April totaled 224,398 units, up slightly from April 2002and registering the 14th consecutive month of year-on-year growth.
Domestic production in April came to 109,319 units, up 3.4% over the same month a year ago and marking the 14th straight month that output has exceeded the previous year's level. Notable contributors to that increase were the new Teana sedan that was launched in February, the new Cube, the Fairlady Z (350Z in North America) for the Japanese and North American markets, and the new Infiniti FX45/FX35 premium crossover SUVs, the new Murano crossover SUV and the Infiniti G35 (Skyline in Japan), all of which are marketed in the U.S. and Canada.
Overseas production for the month stood at 115,079 units, down 3% from April 2002 and dropping below the previous year's level for the first time in four months. Production in the U.S. totaled 38,279 units, rising 3.4% over the same month last year, due to the start of full-scale production of the new Maxima. In Mexico, production came to 23,833 units, a decline of 23.7% from the same month a year ago. The decrease was primarily related to a reduction in Sentra output tied to the model year changeover scheduled for May.
Despite continued robust demand for the new Micra (March in Japan), production in the U.K. was off 8.7% from the same month last year to total 26,777 units, owing to reduced output of the Primera. Production in Spain rose 14.5% over April 2002, advancing to 9,890 units, largely on account of the launch of the new Primastar commercial vehicle.
Nissan's production in other regions substantially exceeded the levels for the same month a year ago, with output in China rising 47.7% to total 5,824 units and output in Taiwan increasing 20.8% to reach 5,576 units.
Sales
Nissan's domestic registrations in April came to 43,760 units, down 9.3% from April 2002 and marking the first year-on-year decline in 13 months. The Teana, Cube and Fairlady Z models that were rolled out during the last fiscal year continued their strong sales showing, but declines were seen for other models, such as the new generation of the March that has been on the market for more than a year. Nissan's share of the registered vehicle market in April stood at 17.6%, a 0.6-point decline from the same month a year earlier. Including minicars, Nissan's domestic sales in April totaled 46,021 units, off 11.9% from April 2002. Nissan's share of the domestic market, including the minicar segment, was 12.1% in April, a 0.8-point decrease from the same month last year.
In the U.S., thanks to the strong showing of such new models as the Maxima, Murano, 350Z, Infiniti G35 and the Infiniti FX45/35, Nissan's sales in April came to 60,940 units, a slight 0.4-point dip from a year earlier. The Infiniti Division set a new April sales record of 8,872 units, up 14.6% over the same month of the previous year. Meanwhile, the new models of the Nissan Division also posted strong sales, notably the new-generation Maxima, which recorded an all-time sales high for the month of April. However, light truck models and the Altima saw a decline in sales, with the result that sales of the Nissan Division dipped 2.6% from April 2002, finishing the month at 52,068 units. Nissan in Canada had its best sales month ever. Its sales rose 2.6% to total 6,654 units. Sales in Mexico came to 14,178 units, down 13.6% from a year ago because of sagging vehicle demand in that country and a decline in Sentra sales, among other factors.
In Europe, the Micra, X‑TRAIL, Pickup（Datsun in Japan） and other models pushed total sales up 11.1% over April 2002 to 43,894 units and surpassed the previous year's level for the third consecutive month.
Exports from Japan
Nissan's exports in April advanced 12.6% over the same month a year ago to total 55,394 units, marking the 15th straight month of year-on-year increases. Strong shipments were seen for the Murano, Infiniti G35, Infiniti FX45/FX35 and the 350Z to the U.S. and Canada, as well as for the X‑TRAIL to various overseas markets, especially Europe.
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