BEIJING — Japanese carmaker Nissan Motor Co. said on Friday its sales in China, the world’s biggest auto market, fell 12 percent in January, as the Lunar New Year holiday began earlier than usual and the coronavirus outbreak stymied economic activity.
The company, which has embarked on a turnaround to reverse a sales slump, is counting on strong Chinese business.
Last year, it sold around 1.55 million cars and light trucks in China, 1.1 percent lower than a year earlier, but bucking the overall Chinese new-vehicle market that fell 8.2 percent.
Nissan sold 118,143 vehicles in China last month. It is expected to announce October-to-December financial results on Feb. 13.
The company, which has a joint venture with the Dongfeng Group, based in Wuhan where the coronavirus has been concentrated, said is considering restarting production in China sometime after Feb. 10.
Production in Hubei province of which Wuhan is the capital, will start sometime after Feb. 14.
Reuters has reported Nissan aims to sell around 1.6 million cars and light trucks through its China joint ventures this year.