Nissan chief executive Carlos Ghosn has predicted that manufacturer will achieve a ‘record for sales’ in 2017 as global economic growth buoys demand.

Ghosn – also chief executive of the Renault-Nissan Alliance – said he was confident that President-elect Donald Trump’s establishment of stronger ties with Mexico will bring a benefit for the brand which produces vehicles in the country.

A report by Reuters stated that many manufacturers had feared rising costs if Trump carried through on his promise to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) or slap tariffs on vehicles imported from Mexico.

But speaking to reporters today, Ghosn said: “I think 2017 should be a good year. I think we will see reasonable economic growth, particularly in the car industry. I think we will establish a record for sales in 2017.”

Nissan’s latest global sales figures reveal that the brand sold 4.52 million between January and October, after posting record sales of 5.42 million cars and trucks worldwide in 2015.

Reuters reported that Ghosn was not very worried about the future of the NAFTA.

“What has been said by the president of the United States is 'America first',” he said, adding: “We have to believe that the program is about American interest, and American interest includes strong trade relations with Mexico."