Nissan Benefits From Strong May Sales For Trucks And Crossovers

A worker at Nissan’s Smyrna plant, where the LEAF is made. Sales of the electric car rose 319%. Credit: Nissan

American auto sales were strong across the market last month. Franklin-based Nissan North America posted some of the biggest increases.

A nearly 25% hike in the number of cars and trucks sold made for Nissan’s best May ever. That’s despite offering fewer incentives, like dealer rebates. Of course, the company’s advertising continued to tout what deals were on the table and it dropped the sticker price for several models at the start of May.

Trucks and crossover lead the gains for almost all automakers. For instance, the Chevrolet Equinox, made in GM’s Spring Hill plant, saw a 13 percent uptick, making it General Motor’s second bestselling vehicle of the year so far.

However, one major automaker did post a loss. Volkswagen sales declined nearly 2 percent in May. Still, the company named the Passat as a bright spot. Sales of the Chattanooga-made sedan crept up nearly 1 percent.