LEAD: Nissan to post record interim sales, operating profit.

Japan Transportation Scan, October, 2003

TOKYO, Oct. 16 Kyodo

(EDS: RECASTING WITH ADDITIONAL INFO)

Nissan Motor Co. said Thursday it will book a consolidated operating profit of 401.1 billion yen on sales of 3,556.2 billion yen for the first half of fiscal 2003, both record highs for the April-September period.

The results, which spell respective gains of 15.2% and 8.2% over a year earlier, are attributable to an increase in the volume of auto sales and lower costs, the leading Japanese carmaker said.

The ratio of operating profit to sales rose 0.7 percentage point to 11.3%, one of the highest levels among major automakers in the world, according to Nissan President Carlos Ghosn.

Nissan expects a group net profit of 237.7 billion yen for the six-month period,...