Nissan signs UEFA Champions League sponsorship deal

Japanese auto giant Nissan said on Monday it has signed a four-year global sponsorship deal with the UEFA Champions League as it looks to broaden its brand appeal globally. The country's number-two automaker -- whose largest shareholder is France's Renault -- did not disclose the cost of the agreement, which also includes sponsoring the UEFA Super Cup, but called it the firm's "largest ever sponsorship deal". "Europe's most prestigious football competition will be an important global platform for Nissan, and our aim is to show fans all over the world the excitement of both football and our cars," said Roel de Vries, its global head of marketing. Nissan said the Champions League draws about four billion viewers annually. The Super Cup sees the winners of the Champions League and the Europa League, the two main European club competitions, go head to head. "European growth is important to Nissan, and in UEFA we feel we have found the perfect partner to help us achieve our business goal of becoming the #1 Asian car manufacturer in Europe by 2016," said Bastien Schupp, vice president for marketing for Nissan Europe.