All totaled, Nissan Division sold 65,659 cars and trucks, an improvement over the 56,266 sold in June of last year.

Most people would consider a 17% sales uptick a good thing, but Automotive News is reporting that Nissan’s vice president for sales, Al Castignetti was disappointed by the results of his company in particular and the industry as a whole, and that he had been projecting a sales increase of 20%.

The strongest performers in Nissan’s stable were the Altima and Sentra, which saw sales increases of 23% and 31%, respectively. This is especially pleasing to Nissan since the Sentra is due for a redesign, yet managed to outsell the lower-priced Nissan Versa during the month of June. Last year, the positions were reversed, and Versa was the better selling model.

The 2011 Nissan Leaf, the carmaker’s all-electric pride and joy, was also a strong performer, with 1,708 units – 200 more than expected – delivered last month.

Other increases were seen in the Nissan Rogue (8% improvement) and the Nissan Juke, though inventory shortages hurt those cars as well.

Reports from Nissan say that Infiniti’s supply issues should end this month with the arrival of 10,000 vehicles to the United States.

For this week’s Media Monday, we wanted to share this walk-around (courtesy of YouTube and “The TestDriver”) from the St. Louis Auto Show, of the 2011 Nissan 370 spider (reviewed here). Enjoy.

Eric Besson, the French Industry Minister, spoke earlier this week of a case that felt much like “economic warfare,” but said that no official inquiry had been begun, and that such an investigation would only be undertaken if Renault lodged a formal complaint. When asked about the possibility of Chinese involvement, he said he was “…not authorized to say anything at all…” about it.

On Monday, three Renault executives, including one member of the automaker’s management committee were suspended as a result of the case, which has prompted a warning of a widespread risk to French industry. Specifically, the executives are suspected of leaking details about their company’s electric vehicle program, which is a key part of Renault’s current marketing strategy, in which, with Nissan (its Japanese partner), its investing billions of euros.

Le Point news magazine ran a story on its website citing sources who said that the target of the espionage was as-yet-unpatented battery technology.

Renault, which is fifteen percent owned by the French government, has declined to comment, but a source within the government spoke to the press earlier today, saying, “The DCRI (intelligence service) is working on this case. It is in contact with Renault.” The government spokesperson also said that the Chinese connection was being explored but that it hadn’t been substantiated.

On Thursday, Renault issued a warning that its strategic assets had been put at risk by suspected espionage related to the electric vehicle program.

Also on Thursday the German press named the three suspended Renault executives, identifying them as Michel Balthazard, vice president for advance engineering, and the management committee member, Bertrand Rochette, and Matthieu Tennebaum. All three men, the report said, work in project development at Renault’s Guyancourt-based Technocentre

Renault, through it’s partnership with Nissan, is planning to become the first mass producing automaker to offer electric vehicles to the general public, and has (with Nissan) invested 4 billion euros in EV programs. By the 2015-2016 model year, Renault plans to build more than 200,000 EVs each year.

This year, Renault will launch the Fluence sedan, Kangoo delivery van and two-seat Twizy, all electric vehicles, to the European market. At the same time, Nissan is now rolling out it’s electric hatchback known as the Leaf, around the world.

Smart for Nissan | Source: Autonews.com | Click to enlarge

Automotive News reported today on a new deal between Smart USA and Nissan Motor Co. to produce and sell a five-door gasoline-engine small car in the United States. The “B-segment” car is targeted to go on sale during the fourth quarter of next year.

In an interview, Smart USA resident Jill Lajdziak said, “There were a lot of customer requests to offer a little bit larger vehicle.” She also said that the new five-seater is meant to be a direct competitor to the Honda FIT, in America’s growing sub-compact vehicle market.

Smart’s only model, the ForTwo two-seat mini-car built by Daimler, had its peak sales in 2008 – its introductory year – with 24,622 units sold. That year was also marked by gas prices in excess of $4/gallon. Last year, with lower gasoline prices and a collapsed economy, sales plummeted by 41 percent. Year-to-date sales this year, through September 30th, are down 62 percent more, with only 4,779 sales.

The new car will be built on a new global platform in one of Nissan’s factories in the Americas, Nissan spokesman Dave Reuter said.

According to a representative of Nissan, there will be no new orders taken until after the first of the year. The current number of reservations (including 6,000 pre-orders in Japan) is around 26,000, more than double the 10,000 production capacity the carmaker has planned for the current fiscal year, which culminates at the end of March, 2011.

U.S. pre-orders opened on April 20, with drivers paying a refundable fee of $99. Pre-orders in Japan began on April 1, and in Europe on July 30, but Nissan has no numbers for that market yet.

A Nissan spokesperson told the press, “Nissan now is focusing on providing the best level of customer service and premium ownership experience to those who already have enrolled. A subsequent phase of reservations will begin next year, after current reservations and orders have been processed.” The spokesperson also said that Nissan is currently screening potential customers to make sure their regular driving patterns mesh well with the Leaf’s 100-miles-per-single-charge range. There is also a prioritization of orders based on launch dates in local markets, and when reservations were made.

If you’re interested in purchasing the zero-emissions Nissan Leaf, but missed the pre-order window, you can still visit the company’s website and sign up to receive news and updates on the next round of reservations.

The Leaf will be on sale in Arizona, California, Oregon, Tennessee, and Washington this December, with Hawaii and Texas markets opening in January. By the end of the year, it will be available throughout the United States.

Source: Automotive News

This upswing in the SUV market is apparently surprising carmakers as well as the general public. GM has had to authorize overtime at their production plant in Arlington, TX, where the Cadillac Escalade and Chevrolet Tahoe are made, because they have such low inventories of these models. USA Today reports that employees there are working 10 hours a day and on Saturdays to meet demand. As well, both Nissan and Toyota are having difficulties keeping up with the demand for their 2011 QX56 Infiniti and Sequoia, respectively.

So, why are SUVs so popular again? Several news sources are speculating that it might be related to forthcoming regulations that could make these vehicles, if not rare, than at least incredibly expensive to own or operate, because of more stringent Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards. Stable gas prices, currently at $275/gallon may be a factor as well.

Large SUV sales are good for automakers because it’s basically like “printing cash,” says Jim Hall at 2953 Analytics. That’s because traditional body-on-frame SUVS share much of their hardware with full-size pickup trucks.

And how are compact cars faring in this market? Interestingly, not so well. They’ve only seen a 14% growth rate so far this year.

The survey, which was conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, rated Honda, as well as Ford, Nissan, Chevrolet, Toyota, Hyundai and Chrysler. 1,700 consumers, representing a nationally representative sample of adults with at least one vehicle in their household, were interviewed via phone calls, and asked to share their perceptions of customer service and quality commitment.

Honda scored at the top – overwhelmingly so – in both categories, scoring 71% and 73% respectively, with Ford and Nissan in the second and third positions. In fifth place (surprisingly high, considering the woes the Japanese automaker has been going through) was Toyota, with Hyundai and Chrysler trailing the others by a large margin.

Here’s an image of the actual survey results:

While stranded passengers are beginning to move, both companies are claiming that the volcano, which grounded almost all flights in and out of Europe, has forced reductions in production, even for the American market. Due to the nature of the delays, Nissan isn’t sure how long production will be reduced, but a spokesperson for the automaker said that even one day will cause a 2,000 unit setback.

BMW is facing similar delays, and has halted production at its plants in Dingolfing (which produces 5- and 7-series sedans) and the Munich and Regensburg plants (which produce the 3-series and 1-series and Z4, respectively), but hopes to resume normal workflow by April 23rd. The Bavarian automaker is expecting a 7.000 unit shortage.

The ground-stop of air freight has caused a delay in electronics and interior components, BMW adds.

According to Left Lane News, BMW may also have to idle their plant in Spartanburg, SC plant, though if trans-Atlantic flights resume, they may be able to keep that site open and functioning.

Nissan will begin accepting reservations for purchase of the 2011 Nissan Leaf on April 20th, with those who have signed up at NissanUSA to be first in line. In December, Nissan will make the car available for purchase or lease by consumers in select markets, with nationwide availability to be open in 2011. The reservation fee is $99, and is fully refundable. Reserving a Leaf grants consumers access to a place in line when the company begins taking firm orders for the car in August, and also nets them access to special Leaf-related events.

In California, which is likely to be the Leaf’s biggest market, the combined federal and state tax credits, which include a $5,000 state wide tax credit, will effectively decrease the total purchase price of the new electric car to the low-$20,000s, but consumers are advised to remember that said credits cannot be applied until tax time, and that they still need to pay the entire cost of the car up front, or arrange financing. Other states are also offering tax credits – such as a $1,500 credit in Oregon, and a $5,000 credit in Georgia, as well as allowing the Leaf to have access to the carpool lane, even if the only person inside the vehicle is the driver.

Standard features of the 2011 Nissan Leaf, at the SV trim level, include an advanced navigations system, Internet/smart phone connectivity, Bluetooth, push-buttong start, traction control and six airbags. For an additional $940, buyers can upgrade to the SL trim level, and gain a rearview monitor, automatic headlights, fog lights, and a solar panel spoiler.

As part of the purchase process for the Leaf, Nissan will also be offering personal charging docks, which operate on a 220-volt power supply, as well as their installation. These home-charging stations will be built and installed by AeroVironment, and is part of Nissan’s one-stop shopping process. A home assessment is included with the price.

According to HybridCars:

* The average cost for the charging dock plus installation will be $2,200.
* Charging dock and installation are eligible for a 50 percent federal tax credit up to $2,000.
* Using current national electricity averages, Nissan LEAF will cost less than $3 to “fill up.”
* Nissan LEAF also will be the sole vehicle available as part of The EV Project, which is led by EV infrastructure provider eTec, a division of ECOtality, and will provide free home-charging stations and installation for up to 4,700 Nissan LEAF owners in those markets:Phoenix/Tucson, San Diego, Portland/Salem/Eugene (OR), Seattle, Nashville/Knoxville.