Car manufacturer Nissan has reported a 17 per cent increase in year-on-year sales in Europe this January.

The firm has shifted almost 43,000 vehicles on the continent and has seen its market share climb by a further 3.2 per cent, continuing its average monthly growth of around three per cent.

Despite the substantial increase in sales, the firm said volumes were still 25 per cent down on 2005 levels – however, sales were in line with the company’s projections.

Vice-president of sales operations at Nissan Europe Bernard Loire said: "Our market share of 3.2 per cent is the highest we have achieved since January 2009; this was a great result from all our teams in Europe."

"The outlook for 2010 is still uncertain in many markets but several major economies are coming out of recession and forecasting some growth this year, resulting in continuing strong demand for models such as Qashqai," he added.

Nissan’s Qashqai has proved massively popular and the firm is set to create 400 jobs at its Sunderland plant to cope with the high demand.

Increasing numbers of Nissan car parts will be produced at the manufacturer’s plant after the company announced the launch of a temporary production shift.

In response to increased demand for the Qashqai model, Nissan is recruiting an additional 400 staff on fixed-term contracts to ensure that supply does not run out.

Trevor Mann, the company’s senior vice president for manufacturing in Europe, said that its Sunderland staff have been "working incredibly hard" but that additional staff are needed to guarantee vehicles are delivered "as quickly as possible".

"Qashqai continues to buck the trend of a generally depressed market, and we have now identified the need for an additional shift to cover a high volume request in the first half of the 2010 financial year," he commented.

Mr Mann went on to say that the new staff will help to "fill the delivery pipeline" to its dealer network on the continent.

Earlier this week, Nissan’s Sunderland plant was recognised as the largest car production facility in Britain for the 12th year in succession.

According to car manufacturer Nissan, all small cars do not all depreciate in value at the same rate.

The firm claims that its city car, the Nissan Cube, is a residual value winner, with independent experts claiming that car will lose just 55 per cent of its value after being driven for three years or 30,000 miles.

Used car professionals at CAP have set the Cube’s residual value at 45 per cent.

According to Nissan, this means the vehicle keeps its value better than other similar sized vehicles.

Nissan’s UK managing director Paul Willcox said: "Depreciation is a crucial factor for any new car buyer to take into consideration before they choose their next new model.

"While one car might appear to be cheaper, once you have factored in what you are likely to get back when you come to sell, it might not look like such a bargain."

Recently, Top Gear picked the Toyota Prius as its City Car of the Year, citing its residual value as one of its pluses.

The number of Nissan spares being produced by the car manufacturer has been on the increase as sales are reportedly up.

In November the brand’s sales were up by 10,547 units – an increase of 31 per cent overall when compared to 2008’s figures.

It reported of a rise in market share (3.0 per cent vs 2.5 per cent) alongside said good performances throughout the last four months.

Bernard Loire, vice president of sales operations for Nissan in Europe, said: "Our November market share equaled our best monthly market share this year – which was well ahead of last year – continuing our consistent performance each month and growth of share in most major markets."

He added that the Micra, Pixo, Note and Qashqai still generated high demand although the brand is mindful of the impact that the end of the government scrappage scheme could have.

The brand currently offers its Note vehicle on the scrappage deal for cars over eight years old.

For those who think they are in need of Nissan car spares, you could look into buying a new Cube instead.

Said to place priority on function rather than form, this latest addition to the manufacturer’s range is far from conventional, claims Nissan.

Its UK managing director, Paul Willcox, said: "Here we have a car that will not only meet the functional requirements of a huge range of new car buyers, but also capture their imagination."

The motor has a curved interior which focuses on the best possible use of space, creating an area that the brand states is ideal space for relaxing when travelling and suitable for socialising.

Cube’s entry into the London Design Museum’s 50 cars that changed the world marks out the car as being a design icon, states the manufacturer.

Nissan adds that the Cube is "beautifully functional" with its designers referring to it affectionately as a "bulldog in sunglasses".

Standard features include a big triple-layered glass roof, to give a sense of atmosphere, with a Japanese inspired shoji rice paper shade.

The manufacturer also recently released the Roox, which is said to be another motor that focuses on maximum use of space.

Used Nissan parts will be the last thing on the minds of drivers who have decided to invest in the brand’s new Roox.

The minicar went on sale today (December 2nd) and was named as a result of the merging of the words room and max –which reflect the car’s spacious interior.

Described as a comfortable family vehicle, its interior seeks to alter Japan’s impression of what lies inside a minicar.

Roox’s exterior has taken some of its traits from Nissan’s Highway Star Minivans and is claimed to be both eye-catching and elegant, according to the brand.

It is also said to come top in terms of energy-efficiency as the K6A models (apart from the turbo) deliver fuel efficiency of 21.5 km/l2. This represents a 15 per cent upwards improvement in fuel economy greater than the standards set for next year.

Nissan provides a pan-European warranty for every new motor it sells from an authorised UK dealer operating in European countries.

Car manufacturer Nissan has produced a new version of its GT-R.

Although the improvements to the vehicle are said to be minor, it is thought that they will be key to defining it as a supercar.

In terms of what the motor looks like, on the exterior there is a deeper colour paint finish on its front and rear bumpers.

Going inside the car, gun metal finish surrounds can be found to complete the rev counter and speedometer.

At the rear of the GT-R, the suspension radius rod bushings have been made stiffer which is said to provide a noticeable change when the motor goes round corners.

The damper and front rates have been changed and its handling is said to have been made "more dynamic".

Work has also been done at the back, with an addition of two cooling ducts to the carbon fibre underfloor diffuser, which will make cooling more effective.

Nissan is currently offering finance on its GT 370Z, with no deposit necessary.

For all of your Nissan spares, visit 247 Spares.

Car manufacturer Nissan has revealed results for the half-year that were better than it had anticipated.

Commenting on the figures Carlos Ghosn, president of Nissan, said: "We continue to operate in an environment that is volatile and uncertain.

"Our performance in the first half of fiscal 2009 is encouraging, demonstrating that Nissan’s recovery plan is on track."

He hastened to add that the firm would move forward cautiously while still trying to gauge what will happen with the UK economy.

From April to September the company’s net income was $90 million (around £54 million) after tax, which represented an almost 93 per cent decline when compared to figures from the same period in 2008.

Nissan attributed some of its success down to the government’s scrappage scheme.

The brand offers buyers a £2,000 incentive on certain models in its range for the trading in of their old vehicle.

For all of your Nissan spares, visit 247 Spares.

If you are fan of one particular car brand then its recent offer means you could make VAT savings.

Car manufacturer Nissan is guaranteeing that, for those people who order their new car by the end of this year, the government’s VAT increase will be deducted from the car price.

Paul Willcox, Nissan’s UK managing director, comments: "The transition from one VAT rate to another has the potential to leave car buyers paying more than they expect when they take delivery. To avoid any such problems with a new Nissan, we have decided to take the VAT increase out of the equation."

He added that this incentive provided just another good reason for purchasing one of the company’s cars with the offer applying to buyers who are happy to take delivery of their new Nissan by the end of March of next year.

Nissan also participates in the government’s £2,000 scrappage scheme.

For all of your Nissan spares, visit 247 Spares.

Nissan has recently celebrated winning an award for its Fairlady Z car.

The Most Fun Award was given to the manufacturer at this year’s Car of the Year Japan event, presented on October 22nd.

A special exhibition was held this year to celebrate the 30th time the event has been held at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show.

Nissan’s achievement means that this is the second occasion that the Fairlady Z has received the accolade since 2002/03.

The Tokyo Motor Show launched on October 23rd for the opening ceremony and special guests, while the general public were admitted to the event from October 24th.

It is scheduled to run until November 8th.

Fairlady Z is due to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2009 after the first edition was made in 1969.

For car owners who own older models of the car brand, you can find all of the Nissan spares you need at 247 spares.