Nissan Joins GM, Ford, DC, Toyota and Honda in Million-Vehicle Sales Club

Interestingly, while Nissan trails Toyota sales in its home Japanese market as well as in the U.S., it is the number two seller

Nissan's U.S. market share has been growing rapidly, up 24 percent to 985,988 units in 2004. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

of vehicles in its domestic market, ahead of Honda. All three Japanese brands, plus Mazda, Subaru and Suzuki, as well as South Korean brands Hyundai and Kia, have been robbing market share from GM and Ford, with North American customers appreciating the types of products offered by import brands as well as the higher levels of quality and reliability non-domestic nameplates deliver. Only Chrysler Group has made headway against the Asian imports, thanks to its popular 300-series sedan, plus Dodge and Jeep trucks and SUVs.

Nissan's U.S. market share has been growing rapidly, up 24 percent to 985,988 units in 2004. During the same period Honda, Nissan's closest competitor, sold 1.3 million vehicles and the world's largest automaker, GM

While Nissan Canada sold nowhere near 100,000 units last month, it achieved its second best sales on record last month, at 7,087 units. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

sold 4.6 million vehicles in the U.S.

Connelly added that Nissan North America is targeting a sales increase of 5 to 10 percent in 2005.

While Nissan Canada sold nowhere near 100,000 units last month, it achieved its second best sales on record at 7,087 units, compared to 7,307 units sold in March of last year. Sagging Nissan brand sales, down from 6,563 in March 2004 to 6,256 vehicles last month, were boosted by a strong month from Nissan's Infiniti luxury division, itself strengthened by the launch of its much more competitive new midsize M35/45. Infiniti managed 831 unit sales last month, compared to 744 in March of last year.