Nissan celebrates 1 MILLION crossovers sales in the UK

Nissan has on Thursday celebrated the sale of its one millionth sport utility crossover vehicle to UK customers – the first car brand to achieve the major milestone.

The achievement by the trio of Qashqai, Juke and X-Trail has been made in the run up to next week’s unveiling of the new third generation Nissan Qashqai to be built at the Japanese car giant’s Sunderland factory before reaching showrooms later this year.

Sunderland, which Nissan has pledged to support long-term in the wake of Brexit, has already produced more than nine out of ten of the million crossovers sold in the the UK so far – comprising Qashqais and Jukes.

Platinum collection: Nissan has hit the milestone of selling one million crossovers in the UK – the first manufacturer to reach the landmark figure

Nissan calculates that the combined sales of the first two generations of Qashqai SUVs produced from 2007 to 2020 and smaller Juke crossover – built from 2010 to date – plus the current generation X-Trail, available since 2014, collectively reached and have since passed the one million total.

It marked the occasion by wrapping the five models that contributed to the sales milestone in platinum – mirroring the platinum record that is traditionally awarded to music artists who achieve one million sales of their album or single.

Of the one million Nissan crossovers sold in the UK more than nine out of ten (93 per cent) were made at the company’s Sunderland plant in North East England comprising both Qashqais (62 per cent) and Jukes (31 per cent).

The current generation X-Trail has been produced at Nissan’s Kyushu plant in Japan since 2014 and accounts for seven per cent of the one million UK sales.

Having made a commitment to stick with post-Brexit Britain, Nissan said: ‘Since the Nissan Qashqai invented the crossover segment in 2007, and the Juke created the compact crossover segment in 2010, Nissan has been the market leader for UK crossover sales. 

‘The Qashqai is a main fixture in the UK’s top 10 selling cars, with the Nissan Juke regularly entering the top 15 best-selling models.’

The Sunderland factory has built crossovers for Nissan since December 2006 when the first generation Qashqai rolled off the production line. Production of the quirky Juke began in 2010, with the second generations of Qashqai in 2014 and Juke following in 2019.

The Japanese car maker celebrated the achievement by wrapping every crossover contributing to one million sales in platinum wraps

The Japanese car maker celebrated the achievement by wrapping every crossover contributing to one million sales in platinum wraps

 THE NISSAN MODELS CONTRIBUTING TO HITTING 1MILLION SALES IN THE UK
NISSAN MODEL TOTAL UK SALES % SHARE OF SALES MANUFACTURING LOCATION
Qashqai (2007-2014) 246,993 25% Sunderland, UK
Qashqai (2014-2020) 373,014 37% Sunderland, UK
Juke (2010-2019) 292,723 29% Sunderland, UK
Juke (2019-Present) 20,208 2% Sunderland, UK
X-Trail (2014-Present) 67,062 7% Kyushu, Japan
TOTAL  1,000,000  100%   

Nissan noted: ‘Both generations of Qashqai and Juke were designed, engineered and produced in the UK. The Qashqai is the UK’s largest volume manufactured car with more than three million manufactured in Sunderland.’

‘Nissan’s Sunderland plant is also the largest automotive factory in UK history, with one in three British-made cars coming off its production lines, making Nissan the UK’s biggest car manufacturer.’

Nissan said crossovers are a ‘significant focus’ for Nissan and will continue to play an important role as part of its future plans. 

Andrew Humberstone, managing director of Nissan Motor (GB) said demand for crossovers had grown because of their flexibility, raised seating position, ground clearance and capable styling mixing the practicality of SUVs with the compact external dimensions, efficient performance and handling refinement of a hatchback.

One of the biggest contributors to the sales is this first-generation Qashqai, which cemented the model's position as the best-selling SUV when it launched in 2006 - a record it has held every year since

One of the biggest contributors to the sales is this first-generation Qashqai, which cemented the model’s position as the best-selling SUV when it launched in 2006 – a record it has held every year since

The second-generation Qashqai, which remains the UK's favourite SUV has recently ceased production ahead of the arrival of a new model revealed next week. With 373.104 sales, it is the biggest-selling of all generations of Nissan crossovers

The second-generation Qashqai, which remains the UK’s favourite SUV has recently ceased production ahead of the arrival of a new model revealed next week. With 373.104 sales, it is the biggest-selling of all generations of Nissan crossovers

Mr Humberstone said: ‘We are thrilled to have reached this unprecedented sales milestone and wish to express sincere gratitude to our customers for putting their trust and loyalty in the quality of Nissan’s vehicles.

He added: ‘The next generation of Qashqai will also be with us very soon featuring two electrified powertrains that will reinforce its benchmark position in the segment.’

The impressive UK sales figures are but a fraction of the production figure from Sunderland which exports 70 of its cars, mainly to the EU member states.

Almost a third of sales of Nissan crossovers in the UK has been Jukes, which hit the market in 2010

Almost a third of sales of Nissan crossovers in the UK has been Jukes, which hit the market in 2010

Like the Qashqai, the Juke is also produced at the Sunderland plant in the north east of England

Like the Qashqai, the Juke is also produced at the Sunderland plant in the north east of England

Nissan's X-Trail has contributed to the remaining 7% of sales alongside the more popular Qashqai and Juke

Nissan’s X-Trail has contributed to the remaining 7% of sales alongside the more popular Qashqai and Juke 

In total, the Sunderland factory has built more than 10 million cars (10,478,120) up to the end of 2020 with the Juke and Qashqai accounting for 45 per cent of the total.

Total production of all versions of Qashqai stands at 3,728,930, with Juke production at 1,053,178.

Qashqai is also the most successful UK-built car and fastest to reach three million units which took 10 years.

Nissan’s chief operating officer Ashwani Gupta said last month: ‘The Brexit deal is positive for Nissan. Being the largest automaker in the UK we are taking this opportunity to redefine auto-making in the UK.’

He said: ‘It has created a competitive environment for Sunderland, not just inside the UK but outside as well.’ And he stressed: ‘We are committed to Sunderland for the long term under the business conditions that have been agreed.’

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