Recognized and respected around the world, Nissan has earned a reputation as a premium vehicle brand that has built on a legacy of reliability and continues to be at the forefront of innovation.
The firsts years…
The history of the automotive giant began in 1914 when the Kwaishinsha Motor Car Works company produced its first car called the DAT. In 1931, he unveiled a new, smaller car aptly named the Datson, which stands for son of DAT. In 1930 Yoshisuke Aikawa bought shares in DAT Motors and merged it with another Japanese manufacturer. The result? In 1934 the Nissan Motor Company Ltd was established with Aikawa as its first president. During this year it completed construction of its Yokohama plant and began exporting cars overseas to Asia, South and Central America, as well as Australia, initially under the Datsun name. However, war was looming, resulting in a shift from small passenger cars to military trucks and even engines for military aircraft and motor torpedo boats.
After the war…
In 1947, after World War II ended, because production at Nissan resumed. It was then that Nissan partnered with the established English Austin Motor Company to gain access to up-to-date engine and vehicle designs. It used the automaker’s platform in its first Datsun models that were exported to the US, while putting its expertise in military vehicle production to use when, in 1951, it built its first Patrol.
A new age…
The year 1966 saw the merger with the Prince Motor Company which allowed for the production of more modern automobiles such as the Nissan Skyline. By the end of the 1960s, more than 1 million vehicles had been exported. Production of the Datsun 240Z began in 1969, which became one of the best-selling sports cars of the 1970s. In the 1980s it was decided to produce and sell cars under the Nissan name, while the 1990s saw some changes. In 1990 it created its luxury division, Infiniti, while in 1999 Nissan agreed to a global alliance with France’s Renault SA to achieve profitable growth for both companies. It worked, as Nissan experienced increased sales in the new millennium.
The present and the future…
Today, Nissan continues to create new and exciting models while improving existing popular ranges. Nissan’s commitment to a more sustainable future was also echoed with the 2010 launch of its small electric vehicle, the award-winning Leaf. And with recent exciting local offerings like the Qashqai and Juke, Nissan’s future looks incredibly bright.
