Nissan Posts 6.9% Gain in Profit

Nissan Motor Co. said Wednesday that third-quarter net income rose 6.9% on demand for new models, including a revamped Pathfinder light truck in the U.S.

Profit rose to 134.2 billion yen ($1.27 billion) in the three months ended Dec. 31, from 125.6 billion yen a year earlier, the Tokyo-based company said. Sales climbed 15% to 2.09 trillion yen. Nissan maintained its forecast for a fifth consecutive year of record earnings.

A wider range of light trucks, produced from a factory opened in Mississippi in 2003, is helping Nissan win U.S. market share from Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn also sustained profit growth by negotiating lower costs from suppliers and expanding U.S. production to limit the effect of a stronger yen.

Nissan plans to increase global vehicle sales for the year by 11% to 3.38 million units.

Shares of Nissan rose 14 cents to $21.30 on Nasdaq.