Qashqai crossover becomes Nissan’s highest-volume car ever in Europe
Sunderland, March 9th, 2016. Nissan has now built more Qashqais than any other car in its three decades of manufacturing in Europe.
Production of the award-winning crossover – at the Sunderland factory in the UK – has recently surpassed the previous highest single-name manufacturing total. That record was 2,368,704 units, previously held by another of Nissan’s European icons, the Micra supermini.
The Qashqai reached 2,368,705 units to overtake the Micra in less than 10 years. Nissan’s Sunderland plant continues to produce around 1,200 Qashqais every day, and by the end of February 2016 the total stood at 2,398,134 units. No other car in the history of the UK car industry has gone beyond 2m units in such a short period of time.
Colin Lawther, Nissan’s Senior Vice President for Manufacturing, Purchasing and Supply Chain Management in Europe, said: “The Qashqai created an entirely new segment when it was first launched and continues to set the standard in crossovers, supporting a record period of growth for Nissan in Europe.
“The Micra is an iconic model for Nissan in Europe, made for 18 years in our Sunderland plant. To overtake it in half the time shows just how quickly our European customers have taken Qashqai to their hearts.”
Styled and engineered for European customers in Nissan’s UK-based design and technical centres, the Qashqai is Nissan’s top-selling car in Europe. It’s also the best-selling crossover in Europe, requiring round-the-clock production since 2010.
Following a string of awards, demand for the Nissan Qashqai shows no sign of slowing down. In September 2015 the second-generation Qashqai became the fastest ever UK-built vehicle to smash the half-million production mark. Today, a new Qashqai is built every 62 seconds, or 58 per hour, at the Sunderland site.
The Nissan Qashqai will also become a pioneer of Autonomous Driving. At the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month, Nissan has announced that, from next year, the Qashqai will be Nissan’s first vehicle in Europe to feature ‘Piloted Drive’ technology. In the first instance, this will allow the car to drive autonomously and safely in a single lane in heavy traffic conditions on highways. Other developments will follow.
Lawther added: “Qashqai has propelled our Sunderland plant to become the biggest UK car plant of all time and taken Nissan sales in Europe to record levels. With autonomous technologies on the way from next year, Qashqai is helping Nissan raise the bar even higher for crossovers.”
Later in 2016, Nissan will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Sunderland facility, which now manufactures the Qashqai and Juke crossovers, the all-electric LEAF, the Note hatchback and the new Infiniti Q30 premium compact car.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
PRODUCTION TOTALS |
(AT END OF FEBRUARY 2016) |
|
Micra |
2,337,292 |
Micra C+C |
31,412 |
Total |
2,368,704 |
|
Qashqai |
1,482,214 |
Qashqai+2 |
270,018 |
New Qashqai |
645,902 |
Total |
2,398,134 |
Following 18 years of production in Sunderland from 1992-2010, the Nissan Micra is currently manufactured for Europe in India. Nissan has announced that production of an all-new Micra for European markets will take place at Renault’s factory in Flins, France.
About Nissan in the UK
- In 2015, one in three cars built in the UK was a Nissan
- Sunderland Plant currently employs more than 6,700 people
- Nissan's European Design Centre is located in Paddington, London and employs around 65 people
- Nissan's European Technical Centre is based in Cranfield, Bedfordshire and employs around 1,000 people
- Nissan’s sales and marketing headquarters in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire employs around 190 people
About Nissan in Europe
Nissan has one of the most comprehensive European presences of any overseas manufacturer, employing more than 17,600 staff across locally-based design, research & development, manufacturing, logistics and sales & marketing operations. In 2014 Nissan plants in the UK, Spain and Russia produced more than 675,000 vehicles including award-winning crossovers, small cars, SUVs, commercial vehicles and electric vehicles, including the Nissan LEAF, the world's most popular electric vehicle with 96% of customers willing to recommend the car to friends. Nissan now offers a strong line-up of 23 diverse and innovative models in Europe under the Nissan and Datsun brands.
About Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
Nissan is a global full-line vehicle manufacturer that sells more than 60 models under the Nissan, Infiniti and Datsun brands. In fiscal year 2014, the company sold more than 5.3 million vehicles globally, generating revenue of 11.3 trillion yen. Nissan engineers, manufactures and markets the world's best-selling all-electric vehicle in history, the Nissan LEAF. Nissan’s global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan manages operations in six regions: ASEAN & Oceana; Africa, Middle East & India; China; Europe; Latin America and North America. Nissan has a global workforce of 247,500, and has been partnered with French manufacturer Renault under the Renault-Nissan Alliance since March 1999.