The success of recent product launches, strong overseas sales and favourable tax position are being credited for the 26.6% increase in Nissan Motor Company's consolidated net income after tax in the October-December 2007 period, which totalled 132.2bn yen (810m Euros).

The vehicle manufacturer sold a total of 898,000 units worldwide in the October-to-December 2007 period, up 13.0%. Net revenue rose 18.2% to 2.7701 trillion yen (17.01bn Euro), and operating profit totalled 211.9 billion yen (1.3bn Euro), up 15.8%.

Sales for the first nine months of the financial year were up 8.4%, totalling 2,714,000 vehicles.

During those nine months, Nissan launched nine all-new models worldwide: Livina, X-Trail, Altima coupe, Atlas F24, Aprio, Infiniti G37 coupe, Rogue, GT-R and Infiniti EX. During the fourth quarter of 2007, two more products are being introduced: the Murano and Frontier Navara Single Cab pickup.

“Despite the headwinds that affect our industry, Nissan has benefited from the success of the new products launched during the past 12 months,” said Nissan president and chief executive, Carlos Ghosn. “Although the market outlook remains volatile for the coming months, Nissan is focused and on track to deliver our full year objectives,” continued Ghosn.

Nissan’s forecast for the full fiscal year is unchanged at an operating profit of 800 billion yen (5.41bn Euro) and net income of 480 billion yen (3.24bn Euro).