Qashqai’s a cash cow for Nissan UK as it hits half-million mark

I had a chance recently to reacquaint myself with a drive in the Nissan Qashqai. I took this opportunity because this quirkily named car has just celebrated a record-breaking milestone.

In a moment of great celebration for all those that work there, the 500,000th Qashqai rolled off the production line at the UK’s premier Nissan factory in Sunderland.

Achieving the feat in a record-breaking 21 months, Nissan’s pioneering

I HAD a chance recently to reacquaint myself with a drive in the Nissan Qashqai, writes Nigel Wigmore.

I took this opportunity because this quirkily named car has just celebrated a record-breaking milestone.



In a moment of great celebration for all those that work there, the 500,000th Qashqai rolled off the production line at the UK’s premier Nissan factory in Sunderland.

Achieving the feat in a record-breaking 21 months, Nissan’s pioneering flagship crossover has become the fastest ever UK-built vehicle to smash the half-million production mark.

Since the start of production in January 2014, a new Qashqai has been built every 62 seconds on the Sunderland factory’s line one, with nearly 100,000 of these — 20 per cent — being delivered within the UK.

The achievement also saw the Qashqai beat previous records set by the MK1 Ford Cortina, which took 34 months to hit the half-million mark, and the Austin/Morris 1100/1300 which reached the same total in 29 months.

So what is the attraction of this car? I think most owners I have spoken to express simple satisfaction in the fact that it is a complete car — it drives well, it is comfortable, economical, well equipped and represents good value for money.

Although originally designed for the European market, the Qashqai is now in demand in 84 countries worldwide, including Uganda, Zambia, and Saint Kitts.

Nissan Europe chairman Paul Willcox said: “Half a million Qashqais in just 21 months is an astonishing achievement and proof that the Qashqai is hitting the spot with buyers.

“Together with the pioneering first generation version, there are now more than 2.5 million Qashqais on the road in Europe, making Nissan the undisputed leader in the crossover sector.”

Total global production of the Qashqai now tops 2.5million. About now the new Qashqai will begin manufacture in St Petersburg for domestic sales in Russia.