AFP reported that Nissan Renault will achieve another sales record in 2012 after posting a 10% jump in global sales to 8.03 million vehicles in 2011.

Alliance chief Mr Carlos Ghosn said that with a host of fresh products and demand set to grow in all markets except Europe, where Ghosn predicts a 3% drop in sales in 2011, both the Japanese and French carmakers should continue to expand sales beyond the records set in 2011. He added that "I'm foreseeing another record year for the alliance in 2012."

The results put Nissan Renault within sight of German rival Volkswagen, which posted sales of 8.13 million vehicles and is hoping to overtake Toyota and General Motors for the top global spot.

Mr Ghosn said that "Are we going to go faster or slower than other car manufacturers, I cannot tell you. The problem is not to be number one, number two, number three. The important thing is to get the scale. When you have eight million cars, scale is not the problem for you. The only challenge you have is making sure that scale works for you."

Nissan's sales rose by 14.4% to 4.67 million vehicles worldwide in 2011 while Renault's sales were up by 4.6% at 2.72 million vehicles. Russia's Avetovaz, part of the alliance, posted a 12% gain to 638,000 vehicles.

Mr Ghosn said that "I'm pretty confident Nissan is going to have very strong growth in 2012. I'm also confident that Renault will be able even though Europe is going to be tough to improve its performance. I think Russia also is going to be a big opportunity so Avetovaz should also progress."

Nissan Renault has been working to expand its stake in Avetovaz from 25% to 50%, something Mr Ghosn told AFP would most likely be achieved in the first quarter of 2012.

Mr Ghosn also predicted further consolidation in the global automotive industry. He said that "We are an industry which needs scale. Scale is not going to substitute talent, but talent alone is not going to make it. We're going to need to work together because we know that mergers and acquisitions don't work in our industry."

While Nissan Renault has now reached the economies of scale necessary to compete in the global automotive industry, Mr Ghosn said it is always open to new ties with other carmakers. He added that "Anybody can call and say 'I have a new proposal for you.' We'll always listen. There are plenty of opportunities in the world where we're going to have new frontiers."

(Sourced from Agence France Presse)