Nissan to boost China sales in 2009

Japan’s Nissan Motor Co aims to boost car sales in China next year by up to 15% to nearly 400,000, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing a senior executive. The head of Dongfeng Nissan Passenger Vehicle Co, the passenger car manufacturing and sales division of the joint venture between Nissan and China’s Dongfeng Motor Group Co, told reporters in Beijing that the global economic slowdown’s effect on China has been limited. "[While] it’s very difficult to read the market’s direction, we’re aiming to increase our total passenger car sales here by 40,000 to 50,000 vehicles next year," Toshiaki Otani said. This would mean that Nissan’s sales in China would total 385,000 to 395,000 next year, up 12% to 15% from the sales levels it expects to achieve this year. Otani added that Nissan is "almost certain" to meet its goal of selling 345,000 vehicles in China in 2008.