Nissan: SUVs and Crossovers Could Surpass Cars in Europe Next Year

Sales of SUVs and crossover vehicles in Europe are likely to exceed demand for traditional sedans, hatchbacks and wagons as early as next year, predicts Guillaume Cartier, who heads Nissan Motor Co. operations in the region.

Cartier notes the SUV/crossover segment already accounts for 22% of the European market. He tells Automotive News Europe that such models currently generate about 70% of Nissan’s sales there.

SUV/crossovers appeal to almost all buyers, regardless of age or circumstance, Cartier says. That, he adds, explains why Nissan’s competitors have added two dozen SUV and crossover models to their European lineups within the past seven years.