Nissan says it has now built more Qashqais than any other model in its three decades of manufacturing in Europe. Production of the mid-range cross-over recently passed the previous record of 2,368,704 units held by the Micra supermini.

Nissan’s Sunderland plant continues to produce around 1,200 Qashqais every day, and by the end of February 2016 the total for all versions and generations of the car stood at 2,398,134 units. No other vehicle in the history of the UK car industry has gone beyond two million units in such a short period of time.

Colin Lawther, Nissan’s Senior Vice President for Manufacturing, Purchasing and Supply Chain Management in Europe, said: “The Qashqai created an entirely new segment when it was first launched and continues to set the standard in crossovers, supporting a record period of growth for Nissan in Europe.

“The Micra is an iconic model for Nissan in Europe, made for 18 years in our Sunderland plant. To overtake it in half the time shows just how quickly our European customers have taken Qashqai to their hearts.”

Styled and engineered for European customers in Nissan’s UK-based design and technical centres, the Qashqai is Nissan’s top-selling car in Europe. It’s also the best-selling crossover in Europe, requiring round-the-clock production since 2010. Today, a new Qashqai is built every 62 seconds, or 58 per hour, at the Sunderland site.

The Nissan Qashqai will also become a pioneer of Autonomous Driving. At the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month, Nissan has announced that, from next year, the Qashqai will be Nissan’s first vehicle in Europe to feature ‘Piloted Drive’ technology. In the first instance, this will allow the car to drive autonomously and safely in a single lane in heavy traffic conditions on highways.

Lawther added: “Qashqai has propelled our Sunderland plant to become the biggest UK car plant of all time and taken Nissan sales in Europe to record levels. With autonomous technologies on the way from next year, Qashqai is helping Nissan raise the bar even higher for crossovers.”

Later in 2016, Nissan will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Sunderland facility, which now manufactures the Qashqai and Juke crossovers, the all-electric Leaf, the Note hatchback and the new Infiniti Q30 premium compact car.