Nissan Global Production & Sales : 2023/24

Nissan is open with its global data, something few companies are so hats off to them for that. The data below includes Nissan, Infiniti and the Venucia/DongFeng joint venture in China. First, we look at production by country and then sales by region. 

Production: Over the last two years there has been a shift in where Nissan vehicles are made. More precisely, Mexico and China. The former has increased from 12% of the total to 21%, eclipsing China as the largest manufacturing country for Nissan. China has dropped from 33% to 21% so has now gone below Japan into third. 

Total production was down 9%, based on lower Chinese volume. Despite that, overseas production is up at 79%, high by Japanese car company standards. The top three production nations are all 21% for 2024. 

Regional sales: It follows production as one would likely expect. China isn't as important as it used to be and managing the decline in that market while maintaining solid global sales figures is impressive. Japanese sales contribute 14% of the total, a percentage that's been held for the past three years. 

In 2023, production exceeded sales by 70,000 units. For 2024, it swung the other way to 219,600 so a large reduction in stock levels.  

For Nissan/Infiniti Europe Sales 2024 by model, simply click here. 

For Nissan/Infiniti USA Sales 2024 by model, simply click here. 

Data & picture source: Nissan. 

Nissan / Infiniti Sales Europe : 2023/24

Nissan has recently made this data available so in a world where many manufacturers are too sensitive to offer information of this sort, well done Nissan. They join Toyota in this (click here to view it).

Nissan: Registrations have grown 24% over the past two years and that has been achieved with a pruned down range. The Qashqai and Juke are the two main models with the X-Trail not too fat behind. The Ariya EV (right) has effectively replaced the Leaf which has been discontinued in Europe.

Nissan has got into a range of vans sourced from Renault. It ended production of its own light commercials in Europe and the switch seems to have been successful. The Townstar is pictured below. The latest names for the vans are used in the list. 

Infiniti: There were high hopes for the marque in Europe with a push around 2016 and 2017, spearheaded by the QX / QX30. Then an about turn of giving up on that almost as quickly as it was started. 2023 was a low point for sales but in 2024 a slight upturn. The QX80 (below) is the leading model.

I assume it was soon realised that winning over European buyers of premium cars is a long haul project that was underestimated. The right decision was made as it was too ambitious. With a more measured approach and more realistic goals, the marque still has a place in Europe if Nissan want that. 

Data source: Nissan Group.

Canada Car/Light Truck Sales : 2024

Sales data from Canada is poor these days, not the sort normally associated with a country with Canada's status. As for the figures, some are from the manufacturers, some from other sources and others are estimates. So take them as a reasonable guide only.

With a total 10% increase in sales and the 'Diff' column reflecting market share change, anything down by up to 10% either broke even or had some increase in sales. Ford took its lead to a comfortable position. Stellantis brands did their usual drop due to what seems a policy they have decided on. 

Japan Top 50 Models : 2023/24

Japan has an open car market without tariff protection, yet the entire Top 50 are Japanese models. The list below is coloured as follows: Toyota Group blue, Nissan-Mitsubishi green, Honda maroon, Suzuki gold, Subaru and Mazda yellow. 

There are a few things I would have done differently had the source obliged. The Corolla and Yaris have the crossover combined with the car version as maybe the Crown. The Land Cruisers variants appear to be combined too. No matter, as the list otherwise is fine and hopefully informative. 

The Honda N-Box yet again leads the sales although it did drop 11% on last year. The Suzuki Spacia had a good season. Scandal hit Toyota Group suffered accordingly as happens in Japan because it's important to save face or mentsu if that can be applied to a company.

Above is the Honda Freed, up 10%. Below is the Suzuki Solio. up 9%.

Mexico Production By Manufacturer : 2023/24

Mexico has developed a strong automobile manufacturing industry. Production is for domestic consumption as well as for markets around the world. The list includes cars and light trucks.   

GM is the main producer with 842,500 vehicles made for three brands within the company. Nissan is next with 670,000 for two marques. 

The total was 4 million units which was up 6% for the 12 groups and 17 brands involved. It was 15 brands last year, with Cadillac and Hyundai added in 2024.

Such openness is rare. I can't see why this sort of data isn't available elsewhere.  

Data source: Inegi. 

Photos : Manufacturers.

Hyundai Group Korea Production : 2024

Hyundai manufactured nearly 1.5 million passenger cars in Korea during 2024. Most of the increases came from larger volume models and decreases otherwise. Overall the total was down 2%.

Nearly 288,000 or 19% of those were the Avante or Elantra as it is also known. The Kona at 251,000 and Tucson 206,000 were next. The i30 ended its production in Korea but it will still be made in Czechia.

There were 60,000 kits exported to plants for basic assembly. There isn't a breakdown of the models involved, where they originated from or their assembly location so they are not assigned to any country and are not included below. 

Data source: Hyundai.

As for commercial vehicles, 187,000 were made in Korea. 83% were light vehicles (vans) and the other 17% trucks. Their numbers fell 14%.

Finally, 205,000 Genesis cars were made here. The GV80 accounted for a third of the total. There was a 3% fall in numbers. 

Liechtenstein Sales : 2024

Registrations were down slightly 2% to 1,564. That's not a lot but from a small principality of just under 40,000 people as expected. Many premium marques do well here too. Mercedes-Benz jumped to first place with a 25% increase. Volkswagen was down 21% so changed places with M-B. Aston Martin increased over 600%!

With any smaller volume market, things can bounce around more so things could be quite different in a year's time. 

Data source: Liechtensteinische Landesverwaltung.

JLR Plant Production : 2023/24

JLR volume was up 3% for the year. The company doesn't provide the data as presented here but I've put together what is a reasonably accurate picture of where they make their vehicles. 

The UK has three assembly plants and overall they had a good year. The Solihull facility is the main plant for JLR, making some Land Rover models and the F-Pace. Halewood is exclusively a Land Rover plant. Castle Bromwich has made its last fossil fuel Jaguar cars during 2024. The plant will be repurposed for other duties. 

Overseas, the plant in Slovakia continues with Land Rover production. The Graz production is done on a subcontract basis for Jaguar and continues for the time being. The Chinese joint venture will gradually switch to electric production and will in future create the Freelander brand built on Chery EV architecture. Finally what appears to be the underachieving operation in Brazil making two Land Rover models. 

Data source: JLR, various. Pictures: JLR.

Premium Global Marque Sales : 2024

Many manufacturers put out their global data while others don't. You can spot the difference by the rounded numbers. They are all based on something, not wild guesses. The total remained much the same.

The BMW Group held on to the top spot as expected, despite a 4% drop in volume. Mercedes-Benz was close to last year as was Tesla. Audi took a tumble as it pulled back on deliveries. Lexus is an estimate but the brand did well in many markets. 

Volvo too had a strong result as did JLR. Jaguar was down less than expected as it stopped sales in the UK and ran down stock. The new low volume electric luxury era is ahead for Jaguar so they won't qualify for this list. 

Cadillac were well down in China but Lincoln was up strongly there. Fisker went out of business so the number is based on what had sold at that point and stock yet to be sold. That was the hardest figure to judge.

The new Chinese entrants in this area of the market are arriving. Hongqi got past Porsche into eighth place. Other Chinese brands are Zeekr, Nio and Xpeng and a new one Xiaomi is already moving fast. 

There are probably more than are listed here but keeping up is the issue. Also, what constitutes premium is getting blurred. Tesla hasn't convinced me but it is generally considered so. Many of the new premium Chinese brands seem to be of a similar ilk. 

Data source: Manufacturers, estimates.

Updated 31.01.25.

Brazil Top 50 Car/LCV Models : 2023/24

With registrations up 14% in 2024, there is no surprise with the number of increases we see in the chart below. What may surprise is the number of Chinese models making it into the top 50. They are highlighted in pink (along with Korea) to make them easier to find. 

The USA also has a fair representation (dark blue) and Japan (yellow) also having popular models here. Europe isn't left out (light blue), doing better at the top end of the list. The Fiat Strada (picture above) is the best selling model. The picture below is the newly arrived BYD Dolphin Mini.

Data source: Fenebrave.

US Model Sales : 2023/24

I've done a breakdown by model for many brands this year and now the summary chart I guess you could call it. The Ford F-Series took its customary place at the top with the Chevrolet Silverado was second for the third consecutive year. The RAM P/U range dropped to fifth, the last time it was lower was in 2012. 

Japanese brands are well represented, including Lexus which had the distinction of being the only premium marque represented. Korea too has some models here but notice not one from Europe and of course nothing from China.  

The top picture is of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, over 200,000 sold but down 12% as expected from a Stellantis model. Below the 'compact' Maverick pick-up with sales picking up nicely by 39% to 131,000. 

Data source: Manufacturers & estimates.

Brazil Passenger Car Sales : 2024

Registrations were down 2% in December but up 13% for the year. The top selling brands all had falls in share which is unusual apart from a slight increase from VW. I think the arrival of Chinese brands and their recent success has been a contributor to that. 

BYD (+276%), Chery (+71%) and GWM (+144%) lead the charge for China. Ford ceased production here which saw sales plummet but are now on a rebound if not enough to return to former glory. Import duty will see to that. 

Anfavea, Abeifa. 

Mercedes US Model Sales : 2023/24

If there is one thing German marques do well in and that's complexity. It is at least partly fueled by intense competition and entering every niche they can think of. 

Looking at the list to the right bears this out and not all models available are here. Merecedes-Benz can point to the success they enjoy as justification and I can't deny that. It's a complex world and I believe at some point that becomes inefficient. 

Moving on, the GLE and GLC are the best selling passenger vehicles. Vans are combined and collectively they are up there with strong sales although they took a hit in 2024, taking them from top to third. The CLS and A-Class have been discontinued.

Data & pictures: Mercedes-Benz.

Sales for the year were the same as last year. The best performing models were the GLC (picture above) which was up 58% and the GLA up 65%. The CLE (picture below) arrived in 2024. 

Subaru / Genesis US Model Sales : 2023/24

Here we have two marques from Asia. Let's look at their place in the USA.

Subaru: Subaru relies on a handful of markets for most of its volume and does well in them, the US being the most important one of them.  

The brand is so successful in the US it's hard to imagine the brand exisiting without that success. 

Sales were up 6% YTD so a sound result. The Crosstrek and Forester are the main models with 54% of the total between then. The outback did OK but after that some reductions in sales.

Subaru has an outdoors, adventure image and that is what drives its success. The 668,000 sales gained in the US is enormous for what could be described as a niche brand. 

Genesis: It is a recent addition to the premium ranks and for now at least dependant on its protected home market. The US will be a target export market it will want to succeed in. 

Arriving in the USA in 2016, sales were at first up and down but for the two previous years there has been a strong increase. That has slowed in 2024 with no new models added. 

Volume was up 8% with the GV80 up 16% and the G80 down 22% (G is for sedan and GV SUV). 

Genesis is still a small player in the premium arena but it's early days. Conquest sales are a challenge in the premium segment. 

Data & pictures: Volvo & Genesis. V60 above & the GV70 below.

Hyundai Brand Plant Sales By Nation : 2024

Hyundai had plant sales of 3,823,000 passenger cars and SUVs. That excludes commercial vehicles and Genesis. The word 'Plant' describes wholesale sales, not retail ones. They were down 6% in 2024. 

Korea had 41% of the total and advanced maths will lead us to conclude that 59% were for plants outside of the home country. India remains the largest overseas operation and by some margin. The USA had a tumble in volume but a Hyundai model has been replaced by a Genesis model so that had an impact. 

The top picture is the Tucson and the lower one is the Palisade. 

Data & picture source: Hyundai.