The chairperson of the Renault-Nissan Alliance says that his company was the best-selling automobile group in the world in 2017, despite the fact that the Volkswagen Group delivered a record 10 741 500 vehicles during the year.
The Alliance has yet to release official in-depth sales statistics for 2017, but Carlos Ghosn claims that the figure – which includes sales of the Renault, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Dacia and AvtoVAZ (or Lada) brands – sits at “more than 10,6 million”. However, he believes the VW Group should not include its Scania and Man heavy trucks sales.
“The Alliance, with more than 10,6 million light private and commercial vehicles sold in 2017, is the premier global automobile group,” Ghosn said in Paris, according to Automotive News Europe.
“That has just been confirmed after Volkswagen this morning announced its sales of 10,74 million, including 200 000 heavy trucks, which we do not include in our statistics,” Ghosn said, adding that “there can be no further discussion” on which company won.
Volkswagen Group sales represented a new record and an increase of 4,3 percent year-on-year. The VW brand contributed some 6 230 200 units, while Audi added about 1 878 100 units and Škoda some 1 200 500 vehicles. Seat managed 468 400 units, Porsche 246 400 and VW’s commercial division a further 497 900.
Toyota’s 2017 sales statistics have also yet to be officially announced, although the company earlier predicted a total of about 10,5 million units.
