Renault-Nissan Alliance Hikes Sales 3%

The Renault-Nissan alliance increased their combined annual sales 3% to 8.47 million vehicles in 2014, led by Nissan's gains in the U.S. and Renault's growth in western Europe.

But results left the alliance in fourth place among the world's largest carmakers and still about 1.5 million units below third-place General Motors Co.

Renault and Nissan hiked their own sales 3% to 2.71 million and 4% to 5.31 million vehicles, respectively, last year. In Russia, deliveries by the alliance's AvtoVAZ unit fell 15% to 387,300 units.

Nissan's sales in the U.S. climbed 11% to 1.39 million vehicles in 2014. Volume soared 11% to 293,200 in Mexico. The company's sales in Japan slipped 1% to 670,300 units.

Renault's domestic sales in France rose 6% to 577,600 units. Deliveries in Brazil were virtually flat at 237,200.