Nissan to remain as the top selling Asian brand in Europe with new models, better tech, and more markets.

• 501,150 vehicles sold in first 8 months of 2015, up 9% on this time last year
• Crossovers, electric vehicles and autonomous technology integral to strategy
• Success driven by Nissan’s most cohesive and powerful line-up in its history

Nissan today reinforced its European growth strategy while firmly holding its position as the top-selling Asian brand in Europe. Nissan also confirmed its commitment to be the most desirable Asian car manufacturer by 2020.

Crossover, electric vehicles (EVs) and autonomous drive technology are central to this aspiration and Nissan will continue to defend and grow its leadership of these areas.

With the launch ofnine new models in Europe since the beginning of 2014, Nissan sets the mark in the crossover segment with new versions of the Nissan Qashqai, Juke and X-Trail. The company has also been breaking records with its line-up of electric vehicles.

Nissan’s European sales total 501,150* units in the first eight months of 2015, representing an increase of nine percent versus this time last year. The record growth stems from Nissan’s focus on new segments and high-growth markets, with localised production and investment allowing Nissan to respond quickly and capitalise on market opportunities across the region.

Today Nissan unveiled a new compact Crossover concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the Nissan Gripz Concept. The Gripz Concept once again offers something new from Nissan – a fresh perspective that blends the ability and practicality of a compact Crossover with the excitement and performance of a sports car.

Paul Willcox, Chairman of Nissan Europe said: “Nissan's commitment to bold design, great quality, and accessible technology is demonstrated here today with the release of the stunning new Gripz Concept that will re-invent the compact Crossover segment.

“In recent years, we've completely re-defined what Nissan means for our customers. We have a track record of bringing the ‘best to the most' – first.”

Today Nissan also unveiled the latest version of the best-selling electric vehicle in the world, the Nissan LEAF. The new model now provides drivers with 155 miles of motoring range, beating all competitors in the industry.

Paul Willcox continued: “This year we are proud to be celebrating the 5^th birthday of the Nissan LEAF and the new LEAF 30kWh offers customers even more flexibility. The Nissan LEAF has sold 185,000 units globally and with over 92 percent customer satisfaction rate, the LEAF remains the best-selling electric car. We couldn’t have achieved this remarkable success without the support of our employees, customers, dealers, partners and suppliers so this really is a historic moment for everyone connected to the Nissan business.”

Nissan's strong manufacturing footprint in Europe continues to fuel the company's growth, enabling Nissan to gain market share in more than 65 percent of the European markets in which it operates.

Nissan continues to shape the future of mobility, investing significantly in Research and Development to bring pioneering technologies to as many customers as possible. The company is committed to bringing autonomous cars to market by 2020, with a differentiated offering built on simplicity, safety and accessibility.

Many of these innovations of tomorrow are already available from Nissan today, most notably through technologies that Nissan has pioneered, including Lane Departure Warning, Distance Control Assist, Around View Monitor and Blind Spot Intervention.

Nissan invests significantly in R&D and has a proven track record of delivering bold design, great quality, and accessible technology to everyone, reinforcing Nissan’s values of innovation and excitement.

*Includes Nissan and Datsun.