Alliance sells 10.6m cars

Today, Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi announced that its member companies sold a combined total of 10,608,366 units in the 12 months to December 31, 2017. A growing demand and a rising number of zero-emission pure electric vehicles helped lift unit sales by 6.5 per cent in 2017, the first full-year of Mitsubishi Motors' membership of the Alliance. One in nine passenger cars and light commercial vehicles sold worldwide were from the automotive Alliance. "With more than 10.6 million passenger cars and light commercial vehicles sold in 2017, Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi has become the number-one automotive group worldwide. This evolution reflects the breadth and depth of our model range, our global market presence and the customer appeal of our vehicle technologies," said Carlos Ghosn, chairman and chief executive officer of Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi.  It was a record year for Groupe Renault, the world's leading French brand and number-two brand in Europe. Sales were up 8.5 percent to 3,761,634 units in 2017. Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. sold 5,816,278 vehicles worldwide, up 4.6 percent.  Mitsubishi Motors Corporation sold 1,030,454 vehicles in 2017, up 10 percent from 2016. Since 2010, when the Nissan LEAF was first introduced, Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi has sold 540,623 electric vehicles worldwide through its different brands. Cumulatively, the Alliance continues as the global leader for 100% electric passenger cars and light commercial electric vehicles. The Nissan LEAF, the first mainstream, mass-marketed electric vehicle, remains the world's best-selling EV with more than 300,000 vehicles sold since its launch in December 2010. During 2017, the new Nissan LEAF was unveiled and offers customers greater range, advanced technologies and a dynamic new design. It went on sale in Japan last year, and will be rolled out in other major markets during 2018. The new Nissan LEAF received over 40,000 orders globally including 13,000 orders in Japan; 13,000 reservations in the United States; and over 12,000 orders in Europe. Alliance 2022 strategic plan As part of Alliance 2022 strategic plan, Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi is forecasting that annual synergies will exceed €10 billion by the end of 2022. In addition, 12 new zero-emission electric vehicles and 40 vehicles with autonomous drive technology will be launched. The introduction of new models and new technologies should lift the combined annual sales of Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi to more than 14 million units, generating revenues expected at $240 billion by the end of 2022.