The automotive group Renault-Nissan Alliance has announced that it posted record unit sales in 2012. The two carmakers and their associates sold just over 8.1 million cars during the year, a 1% increase over 2011's level. Much of the improvement was due to robust growth in emerging markets.

Of the two manufacturers, Nissan (NSANY -4.53%) sold the bulk of those vehicles. The Japanese carmaker unloaded 4.9 million of its automobiles, a 6% year-over-year increase.

The figure for France-based Renault was 2.6 million. Although the company's sales grew significantly in markets such as Brazil and Russia, overall they were down 6% from 2011's level.