Renault will boost Nissan's diesel market share in the UK and Europe by supplying common rail diesel engines for the Sunderland-built Almera, Primera and next generation Micra models.

Traditionally weak on the diesel front, Nissan plans to raise the diesel-engined share of its European sales volume to 40% in 2003. Renault's 1.5-litre and 1.9-litre power units have outputs varying from 65 horsepower to 120 horsepower.

In Britain the diesel factor on Primera should rise from the 4% currently to 14% with the upcoming replacement model also using Nissan's 2.2-litre diesel, currently powering Nissan X-trail compact SUV.

Patrick Pelata, Nissan's vice president responsible for product planning, said: "With the supply of Renault engines we should be on the pace as far as European diesel penetration is concerned."

He said simultaneous fitting of Renault diesels across Nissan's B, C and D segment cars by 2003 would not create a capacity crisis for his French colleagues.

Mr Pelata said: "If we were doing it right now they would be a problem. But they are shifting part of the 1.9-litre capacity to meet demand for the 1.5-litre dCi, which releases volume on the bigger engine." (November 12, 2001)