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Cape Town - February 2017 marks exactly 10 years since the Nissan Qashqai crossover first went on sale, and the brand is celebrating in style.
Nissan is the first brand to reach the 10-year milestone for one simple reason: the Qashqai is the model which pioneered the crossover segment as the automotive industry and car-buying consumers know it today.
Mixing different codes
A decade ago, there was no vehicle which successfully mixed the practicality and desirability of an SUV with the size, efficiency and dynamic performance of a compact hatchback.
The Qashqai started life in 2002, during the development process for what was originally intended to be the new Nissan Almera.
The creative team, says Nissan, decided to go back to the drawing board and conceived a car which truly reflected what buyers were looking for, and delivered on Nissan’s brand promise of "Innovation & Excitement for Everyone".
READ: Two new Qashqais arrive in SA
The first generation of the Nissan Qashqai went on sale in February 2007 and was an instant success. In Europe alone, close to 100 000 examples were sold before the end of that year. And over the next 10 years more than 2.3 million units have been sold in Europe. The crossover has won more than 80 awards in total, of which 19 recognises it as the ‘Car of the Year’.
Nissan says that in the decade since the Qashqai was launched, almost all mainstream automotive brands now have a Qashqai rival, with 21 direct competitors in the market place.
The Qashqai's success has spread beyond Europe, with global sales of the standing at 3.3 million units across 137 countries worldwide over the 10 years, according to Nissan.. Today the Qashqai is on sale in 99 markets, including South Africa.
