It appears that the trend is continuing among reporters to report this basic formula:

1. Prices of things are rising
2. People are looking to save money
3. Nissan Versa saves you money

This time from San Luis Obispo:

Strong sellers include subcompacts and hybrids, although sales of the more expensive hybrids are slowing as people discover they can get the same gas mileage with regular vehicles (such as the Honda Fit and Nissan Versa) without spending the extra money, she said.

Sometimes I think there must be an underground cabal of newspaper reporters that decide months in advance what stories to run together. If they do, at lease they’ve all decided that the Nissan Versa fits nicely into that plan!

According to Reuters Carlos Ghosn is holding firm to his belief that Nissan will sell 15.5 million units in the United States for 2008.

“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.”

I think the important key here for Nissan is to continue to push cars like the Versa. Even in an economic downturn people still need cars, it’s just that their priorities change. So if you’re having trouble with money a low-cost, fuel-efficient car looks pretty good.

From Canadian Driver:

“A month where high gas prices dominated the headlines and these high prices were totally reflected in the vehicles consumers in Canada purchased,” DesRosiers said. “Subcompact cars were up 27.1 per cent, compact cars up 9.7 per cent, compact SUVs up 6.9 per cent all reflect the response to high gas prices. Meanwhile, large SUVs were down 27.6 per cent, luxury SUVs down 10.2 per cent, large vans down 25.2 per cent.

And what we love to see

The top ten best-selling passenger cars in Canada in March were, in order, the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Toyota Yaris, Chevrolet Cobalt, Toyota Camry, Nissan Versa, Hyundai Accent, Pontiac G5 and Toyota Matrix.

I find it funny how people keep writing these articles like there’s a huge surprise that smaller, fuel-efficient vehicles are selling like hotcakes. In a slowing economy where gas prices are rising this should be fairly obvious.

According to Motor Trader Nissan and Chrysler have finalized a a deal in which they will build at least two cars together.

Chrysler and Nissan have extended a collaboration agreement to include two new vehicles which they will build for each other.

Nissan will manufacture an all-new fuel efficient small car based on a Chrysler concept which will be sold in Europe and America in 2010.

This follows an agreement in January when Nissan agreed to supply Chrysler with a car based on the Versa saloon for South America.

It should be interesting for Nissan Versa owners to see what Chrysler can bring to the table.

According to Canadian Driver sales of the Nissan Versa have topped 1 million world-wide. This is great news for Nissan Versa owners as increases in sales will lead to increases in accessories and toys for us!

Tokyo, Japan – Nissan Motor Company has announced that cumulative sales of the Tiida, sold in North America as the Versa, topped one million in March 2008. The milestone comes after just three and a half years after the car was launched.

The Tiida was initially introduced in the Japanese market in September 2004, followed by a rollout to the general overseas markets, including China, in 2005. Subsequent launches were made in North America in 2006 and Europe in 2007.

Following a refresh of the Japan-market models in January 2008, orders exceeded the monthly sales target for the first two months after launch by more than 250 per cent, with more than 21,540 ordered. In China, sales have remained steady at an average 12,000 units per month; the Tiida was named China’s Car of the Year in 2006. Currently, the model is sold in 165 countries; as of March 26, 2008, 204,678 units were sold in North and Latin America.

While this article is much more about the dissatisfaction with the Saturn Astra, there’s a gem sitting right in the middle:

I was hoping for a taut handling sub-compact to replace the Ion rental special Saturn mercifully discontinued. Not so much. My top choice in this segment is the Nissan Versa.

There you have it folks, our Nissan Versa is moving up in the world and getting the recognition it deserves.

According to Market Watch Nissan gained ground in the markets while other auto makers are dropping:

Shares of Nissan Motor Co. and Honda Motor Co. climbed sharply in Tokyo trading Wednesday after the Japanese automakers outperformed rivals in U.S. sales for March, posting sales gains that helped bolster market share.

What’s the reason for this anomaly? The Nissan Versa of course!

Nissan said car sales jumped 6.8% to 66,475 units during the month from a year earlier, bolstered by strong demand for its Versa compact and Altima sport coupe.

Every day I am happier and happier with my choice, it’s nice to see the stock market agrees with me.