Nissan Targets Doubling of Sub-Sahara Sales on Small Cars

Nissan Motor Co., Japan’s second-biggest carmaker, said its small passenger models will lead sales gains in Africa south of the Sahara as economic growth makes people wealthier and enables countries to upgrade roads.

Nissan wants to double vehicle sales in sub-Saharan Africa to 220,000 units by 2016, Mike Whitfield, managing director of Nissan’s South African business, said in a phone interview. The Micra, Almera and Sentra cars will be added to the existing range that also includes sport-utility vehicles, commercial vans and pickup trucks to meet rising demand in Ghana, Nigeria, Angola and eastern Africa, he said.