It’s been a record breaking year for Nissan, with auto sales up 13 percent in June. Overall sales of Nissan Crossovers, trucks and SUVs also stepped up a gear, jumping 30 percent. A big factor in the increasing sales numbers has been the Japanese company’s push to attract younger buyers. The car maker has teamed up with Sony (SNE) PlayStation to create GT Academy: a global challenge now in its 7th year that turns gaming enthusiasts into professional race car drivers. ‘It’s a great opportunity for us to touch a really different consumer. Motorsports consumers are really big enthusiasts and they are big brand followers,’ said Terri Welch, Nissan’s Senior Marketing Manager, speaking from the racetrack in Nashville. The GT academy is also part of Nissan’s plan to revamp its sports car models as both practical and affordable, and the investment appears to be paying off. ‘It’s a good opportunity to make sure that everyone is seeing our brand as a cache performance brand and one that’s really fun to drive,’ added Welch. Bryan Heitkotter is back in Nashville for the 2015 GTA finals after winning in 2011. He went from being an unemployed gamer to a professional motorsports racer after beating 53,000 online competitors and 16 finalists. ‘I couldn’t be happier,’ Heitkotter told TheStreet. ‘I’ve always wanted to race. Ever since I was a little kid it’s been my dream. I think it’s pretty amazing that Nissan put their money and resources behind such a unique concept,’ he added.
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