The French-Japanese alliance of Renault and Nissan has announced combined sales of 8,029,222 units in 2011, a 10.3 percent increase over 2010. The growth was fuelled by strong sales in emerging markets and the United States.

Of the total figure, Renault sold 2,722,062 units, up by 3.6 percent, while Nissan sold 4,669,981 units, up by 14.4 percent, AvtoVAZ Lada accounted for 637,179 units, a 11 percent increase over 2010.

With the sales performance in 2011, the alliance captured 10.7 percent of the global market in 2011, up from 10.3 percent in 2010. According to Renault, an estimated 74,793,900 units of passenger car and light commercial vehicles were sold in 2011.

“The Alliance capitalised on the resurgence of the US economy and gained significant market share in the regions that will drive growth in the 21st century,” said Renault-Nissan Alliance CEO Carlos Ghosn. “Double-digit sales growth is solid progress – particularly during a year in which we faced Japan’s earthquake and tsunami, the abnormal strength of the yen, and financial turmoil in Europe.”