Nissan Sales Up, Automaker Gets NYC Taxi Deal

Franklin-based Nissan North America reported a sales increase for the month of April, up 12 percent from the same period last year.

Fuel efficient models led the way, with the Nissan Sentra jumping 42 percent. Of the thousand all-electric LEAF’s sold in the U.S. since its December launch, more than half were sold last month.

Domestic automakers and Toyota also enjoyed sales increases, driven by cars that get good gas mileage.

Also Tuesday, Nissan announced it beat out Ford for a 10-year contract to supply small commercial vans to New York City, replacing its taxi cab fleet starting in 2013.

Automotive News reports the deal includes 13,000 vans, a relatively meager volume for Nissan. But the company plans to use the taxi deal to promote its small commercial van in the U.S.