Nissan Division posted a 12-percent increase in vehicle sales in July 2012 in the United States to 86,722 cars and light trucks, from 77,191 units in July 2011. Nissan Motor Co.’s luxury brand, Infiniti, posted a 57-percent jump in US sales in July 2012 to 11,619 cars and light trucks, from 7,410 in July 2011. Nissan Division’s strong sales performance in July 2012 was mainly due to the strong demand for its sedan trio -- the Altima, Versa and Sentra, which accounted for 8,512 of the 9,531 incremental unit sales the Nissan brand posted in the month. Al Castignetti, Nissan Division general manager, largely attributed the strong sales to the launch of the redesigned 2013 Altima, which was boosted by a series of national advertising in July 2012.
According to Castignetti, the division’s ad campaign attracted customers to purchase the new Altima and encourage bargain-hunting for the outgoing 2012 Altima. Castignetti added that the 2013 model accounted for around 35 percent of Altima sales for July, but the company closed the month with only about 10,000 of the 2012 model in inventory. Nissan’s Rogue crossover, on the other hand, posted a 17-percent year-on-year increase in sales for July 2012.
Aside from the sedan trio and the Rogue, Nissan also attributed its July feat to strong demand for four of its aging light trucks -- the Frontier and Titan pickups and the Xterra and Pathfinder SUVs, which when combined, logged a 10-percent year-on-year increase in sales for July 2012. Infiniti’s ingredients for its sales success in the first seven months of 2012 included an improved inventory, a new crossover and local advertising support, helping the luxury brand get a 21-percent jump.
