Nissan CEO holds to U.S. industry forecast

By Chang-Ran Kim

BEIJING (Reuters) - Nissan Motor Co. (7201.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) chief executive Carlos Ghosn said on Sunday that he was not revising down his forecast for 2008 U.S. industry vehicle sales of 15.5 million units.

"I don't believe it will be below this," Ghosn told reporters on the sidelines of the Beijing Auto Show.

"The economy in the United States is adjusting very quickly."

Recent industry forecasts have projected the U.S. total industry volume might fall to as low as 14.5 million units this year due to fears of a recession.

Nissan, like the rest of the industry, is looking to make up for lacklustre sales in mature markets with strong growth in China and other emerging markets.

After beating the industry's 22 percent sales expansion in China with a 26 percent rise last year, Japan's third-biggest car maker aims to exceed the industry's performance again in 2008, Nissan executive vice president Carlos Tavares said in a separate interview.

Nissan sold 458,000 passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in 2007 in China.

Nissan is due to launch four new models in China this year, including the second-generation Teana sedan, which made its global debut at the Beijing Auto Show on Sunday.