In a flat market, Nissan increased its monthly share by 0.6% to 4.2% overall in January, with locally-produced models accounting for nearly 80% of sales.

The Sunderland-built Qashqai crossover continues to dominate the segment it helped create with sales of nearly 20,000 last month. While Juke, its smaller Sunderland stable-mate, achieved a 33% jump in year-on-year sales to rival Qashqai in some markets including the UK and Russia.

In the UK, Nissan car sales leapt 21.5% year-on-year in January to 6,285 with the Qashqai becoming the 8thbest selling car in Britain.

Nissan also produces the vast majority of its light commercial vehicles sold in Europe within the region at plants in Barcelona and Avila, Spain. This segment made a significant contribution to the monthly total with a 16% increase in overall sales compared to last year.

Nissan vice president for Sales Operations in Europe, Guillaume Cartier, said: 'Nissan is reaping the benefit of putting our customers’ desires and expectations ahead of traditional thinking.

'In the crossover segment we identified an unmet need and produced the Qashqai and Juke – one of our most successful model families ever. And we are also innovating across our range introducing new engines, new technologies and new ideas.

'This is the main reason we enjoyed a record 2011 in Europe, and it is extremely encouraging to see this level of sales success and momentum carrying over into 2012.'

Russia is Nissan’s largest single European market, and also where the company achieved its biggest monthly increase – from a 5.7% share in January 2011 to 7.4% in 2012.

Other top performing markets in January included France and the UK, both of which increased sales by 22% year-on-year. While market share in Italy climbed to 4%, and a 4.6% share was achieved in the Nordic region (comprising Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and the Baltics).

Yesterday Nissan again underlined its commitment to continue bringing dynamic and segment-defining models to the market by releasing details of the INVITATION (See Below) concept car.

This innovative compact hatchback will be unveiled at next month’s Geneva Motor Show, and will inspire an all-new production model to be launched in Europe during 2013.