Nissan Motor today improved its profit outlook for this year as it earned more profit per vehicle. However, it said that access to semiconductors, currently scarce, would be the main driver of future earnings growth.

The company raised its operating profit forecast for the year to March 31 by 171TP2Q to $1.82 billion.

Japan's No. 3 automaker, maintained its overall full-year sales target of 3.8 million vehicles, after cutting back from 4.4 million in November.

"We hope to get more semiconductors," said Nissan CFO Stephen Ma.

The chip shortage has led Nissan to reduce car manufacturing, as have other major manufacturers, even amid robust demand in key markets such as China and the United States.

Operating income for the three months to December 31 almost doubled to $451.8 million.

Retail volume in the quarter declined 16.31TP2Q from a year ago to 904,000 vehicles, with the largest decline in the United States, which fell 19.81TP2Q.