Micra Output Boosted Thanks to Scrappage Success

Nissan Micra is one of the models that benefited the most from the UK scrappage scheme and, as a result, the Japanese manufacturer increased output at the Sunderland plant by 40 percent last month. However, 2009 is the last year when Nissan will manufacture the Micra in the United Kingdom as the company will move production in India and replace it with a new small crossover.

In September, Nissan produced 11,000 units, with this particular model reaching sales of 10,445 units in Europe last month. This represents an increase of 4 percent year on year, which means this is the second best selling model in Nissan's lineup.

"The scrappage incentives have brought sales that wouldn't normally have been generated with Micra proving one of the most popular. Both the Government's and Nissan's own schemes have stimulated the market and allowed us to protect jobs at the plant and in the dealer network," Nissan Europe manufacturing chief Trevor Mann said.

"The boost to production has been very welcome but we need to remain cautious as scrappage incentives are scheduled to come to an end shortly. We will continue to monitor the market and adjust our production plan accordingly."

Nissan will begin production of the Micra at its new factory near Chennai, in India, sometimes in mid 2010. The facility will roll out some 200,000 vehicles per year, most of them intended for Europe. The European version of the Micra is being manufactured in Sunderland, England, but the plant will soon be retooled to receive a small SUV that, Nissan says, will resemble the Qazana concept.