Nissan Phases Out Two Small Cars in Europe

Nissan Motor Co. has stopped local production of its slow-selling Pulsar five-door hatch in Europe and will do the same later this year with its Almera sedan in Russia.

Both moves are in response to rapidly shrinking demand for conventional cars in Europe, according to the company. As in other major markets worldwide, consumer preferences have swung sharply from cars to SUV/crossover vehicles.

The Pulsar (pictured) debuted in Europe four years ago to compete with the Volkswagen Golf. Nissan hoped to sell 64,000 of the cars annually, but sales last year totaled only 25,200 units, Automotive News Europe says. Nissan’s all-electric Leaf is the brand’s only remaining small sedan in the European market.

Nissan introduced the Almera in Russia in 2013. The car became the company’s best-selling model a year later. But demand has since evaporated in the Russian market, where SUV/crossovers now account for more than 40% of passenger vehicle sales.