Renault-Nissan Alliance Sales Nearly Match GM’s Total

The Renault-Nissan alliance, which added Mitsubishi Motors last year, sold a combined 9.96 million vehicles last year, only 5,000 units short of the record 10.01 million reported on Tuesday by General Motors Co.

Industry leaders Volkswagen and Toyota posted totals of 10.31 million and 10.18 million units, respectively, for 2016.

Last year Nissan sold a record 5.56 million vehicles, and Renault hiked sales 13% to 3.18 million units, according to the companies.

MMC, in which Nissan acquired a controlling 34% stake in October, contributed 934,000 vehicles to the Renault-Nissan total. Demand for Mitsubishi vehicles plunged 13% last year, largely because of the company’s admission that it had falsified fuel economy ratings for 20 models over the previous 25 years.

Russian carmaker OAO AvtoVAZ, also controlled by Renault-Nissan, sold 284,800 vehicles last year, according to the alliance.