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The Nissan Story
Nissan History
and Heritage
Innovation that excites. Since 1914.
Though the first Nissan – actually a Datsun – was produced in 1914, the name Nissan itself didn’t truly debut until 1933 when founder Yoshisuke Aikawa listed the Nihon Sangyo Company on the Tokyo Stock Exchange under the ticker name: NISSAN. In the 91 years since, the Nissan name has grown to be known in almost every corner of the Globe.
THE STORY BEGINS
Origins of Nissan
The global automotive manufacturer known today as Nissan first debuted in 1911 when the Kwaishinsha (Kaishinsha) Motor Car Works was founded in Tokyo. 3 years later its first DAT model — an acronym of the initial investors surnames — was produced.
1914-1959
1933 Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., is established in Japan.
1937
Japan's first mass-produced vehicle
The Datsun Type 15 is the first mass-produced Japanese vehicle. Other Type 15 models include phaeton, mini pick up and delivery van.
1957
The Nissan Skyline debuts
A forerunner to the revolutionary GT-R®, the Skyline was introduced in 1957. The modern Nissan R35 GT-R was first made for sale in the U.S. in 2009.
1958
Datsun comes to America
The first Datsun introduced to the U.S. market in 1958 was the Datsun 1000, built on the same platform as the Datsun pickup truck. This was replaced in 1961 by the Datsun 1200 pictured here.
1959
Building a solid reputation
In 1959 the compact pickup truck came to America. While the first Datsun models arrived in '58, the next year a quarter-ton model with a 48-HP 1200 CC engine established itself on American shores.
NISSAN INNOVATION DEBUTS IN AMERICA IN 1959
From Japan to America
Nissan brought its first Datsun models (a 1000 cc car and truck) to the U.S. at the 1959 Los Angeles Auto Show. Over the years to keep up with growing global demand, Nissan started production in Mexico in 1966. Production in Australia and Taiwan followed, with the first American factory opening in Smyrna, Tennessee, in 1983.
1960-1969
Datsun performance shines
1961
Fairlady 1200 Roadster
The first Datsun sports car imported to the U.S. This convertible roadster was built with steel bodywork with a for the time zippy 48-hp and drum brakes. 288 units were produced through 1962.
1965
Datsun 320 Truck
A upgrade to previous Datsun trucks the 320 had a 60-hp engine and the first 4 speed floor shift. The pictured vehicle was found in the Arizona desert and restored by Classic Datsun of Vista, CA.
1967
Exclusive performance
Highly desired by collectors, the 2000 Roadster,was the first Japanese production sports car to come with a 5-speed. That, plus its robust 150-hp engine, makes it extra fun to drive. Production was limited to 1,000 and the first 10 were light-weight versions for racing.
1967
Nissan 411 4-Door Sedan
Designed by Italian design house Pininfarina and featuring a luxurious interior. An upmarket car in Japan, sales were slowed by a higher MSRP. This was the first Datsun vehicle in the American market to feature a fully 3-speed automatic transmission.
1967
Nissan Patrol
Nissan's first SUV in the U.S. followed Land Rover’s trail and offered more power for less, but just as tough. The Patrol was the only vehicle sold and marketed in the U.S. as a Nissan prior to 1983.
1968
American inspired
Nissan launches the first car styled for the U.S. market, the Datsun 510 sedan, in 2-door, 4-door and a 5-door wagon.
1969
Datsun® 1600 Roadster
The Datsun 1600 Roadster debuted in 1964-1965 as the Datsun Fairlady 1500 and shared many mechanical features with the Datsun Bluebird. Eventually, the model evolved into the Fairlady 1600 Roadster.
The 70s were a great decade for Nissan. Nissan sold the one-millionth Datsun and became the top vehicle importer in the United States by 1975.
NISSAN DESIGN COMES TO AMERICA
Driving innovation
In 1971, annual sales eclipsed 250,000 in the United States for the first time. Nissan also established itself on the track, as the now-legendary Datsun 510 and 240Z dominated racing on two continents.. In 1973, the 1-Millionth Vehicle is sold in America. In 1979, Nissan Design America (NDA) was established in La Jolla, California, with a mandate to bring American style and concepts to Nissan vehicles. Over the years, NDA has brought us the original Altima®, the original Pathfinder®, the modular Pulsar NX, Xterra®
1970-1979
Pushing the limits. Building a solid reputation
1971
Datsun Coupe
The Datsun Coupe featured seating for five and "fold-down" rear seats. Available in the U.S. from 1970-73, selling 89,541 units making it the best-selling car of the time. Datsun 1200 Coupes won three SCCA C-Sedan National Championships.
1971
Racing Datsun 510, #46
Peter Brock and Brock Racing Enterprises (BRE) built and raced the number 46 Datsun 510, which won the 1971 and 1972 SCCA Trans-Am championships driven by John Morton. Its success helped to bring brand recognition to a newcomer in the emerging Japanese market.
1971
Datsun 240Z debut
240Z was introduced as a new sports car at the New York Auto Show in 1969. It featured a fastback styled body based on European design and boasted standard equipment like a strong inline 2.4 liter 6-cylinder engine, full instrumentation reclining bucket seats at an affordable price.
1972
Datsun 510® sedan
The 510® was a novel concept at the time: a good-looking, economical, fuel-efficient, five-passenger car that was fun to drive. It was was available in a 4-door sedan or 2-door coupe with independent rear suspension, or a 5-door wagon. Over its lifetime, the 510 went on to sell more than 300,000 units.
1977
Datsun King Cab
Building a solid reputation for durable and fun-to-drive small trucks, Datsun introduces the King Cab, the first extended cab pickup, in 1977.
1978
Datsun B210gx
The B210 was renowned as Nissan’s best-selling small sedan of the 1970s. The 1978 model was rated at 48 mpg highway, and the “B210 Plus” edition boasted 50 mpg highway – a lofty achievement for a carbureted vehicle.
FROM TRUCKS TO THE RACETRACKS
Building off of success
Nissan built upon its successes of the 1970s – both in the showrooms and on the racetrack. Nissan Motor Manufacturing Corporation (NMMC) was established in Smyrna, Tennessee, to fulfill the growing demand for Nissan vehicles. In 1989, Nissan produced the 1-millionth vehicle on American soil. On the track, Hollywood legend Paul Newman captured Nissan's 50th national SCCA championship following consecutive wins in 1985 and 1986 with the Newman/Sharp Trans-Am 300ZX®.
1980-1989
Finding our stride, building on racing legends.
1981
Four-Door Sports Car is born
The first-generation Nissan Maxima was introduced as the successor to the Datsun 810 sedan. Equipped with an inline-6 engine from the 240Z, this was no ordinary sedan and the Maxima cemented its four-door sports car status for decades to come.
1982
Championship off-road racing trucks
Between 1982 and 1992, Datsun collected an impressive 19 off-roading championship trophies. Our most radical off-roader — a sandblasting 380-hp King Cab desert racer — competed in the HRDA/SCORE Class 1 Unlimited Vehicle series.
1983
First American-built Nissan truck
The marketing of vehicles using Nissan badging in the U.S. begins with the production of the 1984 Nissan pickup on June 16, 1983, at the new assembly plant in Smyrna, Tennessee. Early models carried dual Datsun-Nissan branding to help consumers make the change.
1985
First Sentra® built in america
The first-generation Nissan Sentra was introduced in 1982 as a replacement for the popular and economical B210. It was so popular in the U.S. that, in 1985, Sentra became the second Nissan model to roll off the line in the U.S in Smyrna, Tennessee.
1988
The stellar Nissan racing record
Nissan racing driver Geoff Brabham wins his first of four consecutive IMSA Camel GT Driver’s Championships. Brabham’s IMSA GTP ZX-T car was practically unbeatable that year, clocking a breathtaking top speed of 200+ miles per hour on several tracks and winning eight consecutive races.
LEAPING INTO GREEN TECH
Retaining the best of Nissan
In 1991, Nissan receives its first environmental award from the EPA, and takes a big leap forward in green technology by lending its Alternative Fuel Vehicle to a California testing program and introducing the Future Electric Vehicle concept car. In 1997, Nissan is named “Best of the Best” by the Environmental Protection Agency. An additional accomplishment, in 1992 marked the sale of the 2-millionth Nissan Sentra in the United States.
1990-1999
A decade of agility and innovation.
1993
First Altima assembled in America [[3902]]
The Nissan Altima was introduced to replace the discontinued Stanza line. U.S. assembled in Smyrna, Tennessee, it made an immediate impact in the mid-size sedan segment which continues today with its sixth-generation.[[3902]]
1995
Compact without compromise
1995 was the year Nissan introduced the world to the all-new 200SX® coupe and the all-new 4th-generation Sentra.
1999
The first four door compact truck
In 1999, Nissan introduced the Frontier® Crew Cab, the first compact truck with four full-sized doors. That same year, Frontier, Xterra® and Pathfinder® were named the official vehicles of the Los Angeles County lifeguards, which made many appearances in the T.V. show “Baywatch.”
GROWING LINE-UP
21st-Century thrills
Nissan has nearly doubled the number of models offered and nearly doubled its sales. In 10 years, the diverse lineup has grown to include the first full-size Nissan truck, the TITAN®, along with all-new hybrid technology and a 21st-century supercar. And this is only the beginning of what's to come.
2000-2009
A new century of excitement.
2003
Z Resurrected
The Nissan 350Z, a two-door, two-seater sports car, kicked off production in 2002 and ended the 6-year production hiatus in the US. Its sleek redesign of the 240Z DNA, rejuvenated the Nissan market presence throughout the decade.
2005
Off-road innovation
An all-new midsize Frontier® was launched with the most powerful V6 in its class. Nissan also introduced a mid-sized Pathfinder® with an added 3rd-row of seating, and the 2nd-generation Xterra® made its debut.
2007
Nissan's first hybrid
In 2007, Nissan offered a hybrid driving option for the first time ever with the introduction of the all-new Altima® Hybrid.
2009
The legend lands
Nissan brought its legendary GT-R to the U.S as an affordable supercar. With amazing acceleration, all-wheel drive, aggressive handling and bold styling, it has become an icon in the U.S. sports car market.
2009
The shape of things
The boxy yet stylish Nissan Cube® makes its North American debut with its non-traditional, asymmetrical body.
TRADITION OF INNOVATION
The first Nissan EV
Nissan helped to lead the automotive industry into the age of electric vehicles when it debuted the all-electric Nissan LEAF® and throughout the decade continued its tradition of innovation that excites with all new vehicles like the Nissan Kicks and safety technology like its available Safety Shield® 360 suite of features. Explore Safety Shield 360 [[1381]]
2010-2020
The dawn of Nissan electrification
2010
Nissan LEAF®
In 2010, Nissan introduced Nissan LEAF®—the world’s first mass-produced, 100% electric, zero tailpipe emission automobile. The standard 24-kWh battery was replaced with a 30-kWh battery for 2016, featuring an EPA estimated 107 miles of range. The 2018 LEAF introduced an all-new design and a 40-kWh battery that took range up to an EPA-estimated 151 miles, and in 2019, LEAF PLUS added an available 60-kWh battery, estimated by EPA to offer up to 226 miles of range. [[3899]]
2018
Nissan Kicks: The crossover of self expression
Nissan Kicks offers a bundle of technology and functionality at an attractive MSRP. It’s a one-of-a-kind crossover that’s big on attitude and self-expression. It demands attention with dynamic styling, nimble performance and an optional Safety Shield 360 for a suite of safety tech.
2019
Nissan Altima: All-Wheel Drive sedan
Continuing the Altima tradition of innvovation in the sedan market, the Nissan Altima with an available Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system was made available for the first time. And it's still available today. [[1323]]
2021-Present
2023
Nissan ARIYA
Nissan packs more than a decade of expertise in electric vehicle technology into the 2023 Nissan ARIYA, an all-electric crossover that features available e-4ORCE all-wheel drive and will drive Nissan and us towards an electric future. [[1461]]
NISSAN TOMORROW
A look ahead
Since the beginning, Nissan’s history is one of innovation without reservation and a willingness to do what others don’t dare to do. Nissan has an impressive track record of innovations, one that has greatly impacted the auto industry and the lives of drivers worldwide. [[44]]
Additional Resources
Evolution of GT-R
The history of the GT-R starts with its predecessor, the Nissan Skyline. This marked the first transition for Nissan from sedan to race car. Over 50 years later after the introduction of the Skyline, the GT-R made its way to America where it out competed with American muscle cars and European supercars. Making it legendary overnight.
The history of Z-cars
The Nissan Z-car is known for their distinct styling and reputation for power and performance at a competitive price. The history of the Z-Car has taken an exhilarating road from the Datsun 240Z and Fairlady Z from Japan in 1969, through the 80s with the 300ZX, 2000s with the 350Z, 2010s with the 370Z, and into tomorrow with the current Nissan Z.