Nissan Motor Co. reported profits that beat analyst estimates as deliveries increased in the U.S., its biggest market.
Net income rose to ¥152.8 billion ($1.2 billion) in the quarter ended June from ¥112.1 billion a year earlier, Nissan said on Wednesday. That exceeded the ¥130.2 billion average of 11 analysts' estimates compiled by Bloomberg. The company maintained its profit forecast.
Nissan is benefiting from an improving U.S. market that registered the best first-half sales in a decade. Japan's second-biggest carmaker boosted U.S. deliveries faster than rivals including General Motors Co. and Honda Motor Co., helped by demand for the Rogue crossover and higher incentives.
"The U.S. market is coming close to a peak but will not reverse all of a sudden," said Tatsuo Yoshida, an auto analyst at Barclays Plc in Tokyo.
"The sales momentum for Nissan's big volume models will continue, particularly the Rogue."