Nissan auto sales rise 4% in November

Nissan Group's auto sales rose 4% in November, compared to the same month a year earlier, as customers rushed into crossovers, sport-utility vehicles and pickup trucks.

The performance, which beat Edmunds.com analyst expectations of 2% sales growth, came during an outstanding month for the U.S. auto industry.

The company's Nissan brand recorded a 4% increase to 95,389 units, while the luxury Infiniti brand rose 3% to 11,694.

Sales of typically profitable crossovers, trucks and SUVs rose 15%, as low gasoline prices empowered consumers to go big. That included a whopping 50% increase for the Rogue crossover to 22,565 units, and a 45% increase for the Murano crossover to 5,574.

But sales of Nissan-brand cars — historically the brand's bread and butter — fell 4%. The Altima mid-size sedan fell 10% to 20,564.

Follow Paste BN reporter Nathan Bomey on Twitter @NathanBomey.