Nissan: from modest workshops to the global auto industry - the complete history of the brand

Nissan is a name that today is synonymous with reliability, innovation and affordability. But few people know that the journey of this brand began more than a century ago in a small Japanese workshop where cars were assembled by hand. From the humble Datsun 1930s before the revolutionary electric car Leaf and supercar GT-R - history Nissan reflects the evolution of the entire automotive industry.

Today the company is one of the three largest automakers in Japan and owns such brands as Infiniti, Datsun (revived brand) and Nismo (sports division). But how did an ordinary auto parts manufacturing company turn into a multinational giant? In this article we will look at key milestones, technological breakthroughs and unique strategies that allowed Nissan to survive wars, crises and fierce competition — and stay afloat for more than 90 years.

1911–1933: The birth of the brand - from parts to the first cars

Roots Nissan go back to 1911, when Masajiro Hashimoto founded the company Kwaishinsha Motor Car Works in Tokyo. The first product was a compact car DAT (abbreviation for investors' surnames: Den, Aoyama, Takeuchi). It was a modest three-wheeled car with an engine power of only 10 hp, but it marked the beginning of the Japanese auto industry.

In 1925 the company was renamed DAT Motorcar Co., and in 1931 released the first car under the brand Datsun — Datsun Type 11. Fun fact: name Datsun appeared as an abbreviation for "Dat Sun" (translated as "son of DAT"), symbolizing the continuity of traditions. These cars were simple, cheap and reliable, which made them popular among Japanese taxi drivers.

• 📅 1911 - base Kwaishinsha Motor Car Works, issue DAT.
• 🚗 1931 — brand debut Datsun with the model Type 11.
• 🏭 1933 - merger with Nihon Sangyo (Japan Industries) and the appearance of the name Nissan.

⚠️ Attention: Many people mistakenly believe that Datsun And Nissan - these are different companies. Actually Datsun was a trademark Nissan for export cars until the 1980s, when the brand was temporarily discontinued (and only revived in 2013 for budget models).

1934–1945: Expansion and the war years - how Nissan survived turbulent times

In 1934 the company Nihon Sangyo (abbreviated Nissan) absorbed DAT Motorcar Co., and an era of active growth began. Under the leadership of Yoshisuke Aikawa, who became president in 1937, Nissan began mass production of trucks and cars, including the legendary Datsun Type 15 - the first Japanese sedan with a monocoque body.

However, the Second World War made adjustments: factories Nissan were repurposed for the production of military equipment, including trucks Nissan 80 And Nissan 180 for the Japanese army. After the bombing of 1945, production was practically destroyed, but already in 1947 the company produced the first post-war car - Datsun DS.

Year	Event	Model/Technology
1935	Start of export Datsun to Asia	Datsun Type 14
1937	Yoshisuke Aikawa becomes president	—
1947	Resumption of production after the war	Datsun DS
1951	The first Japanese car with a monocoque	Datsun DB-2

Features of post-war reconstruction Nissan — close cooperation with a British company Austin Motor Company. In 1952 Nissan started assembling Austin A40 under license, which helped to master new technologies and quality standards. This experience would later form the basis for expansion into the American market.

1958–1970: Conquering America - how Datsun conquered the USA

Key moment in history Nissan was the decision to enter the American market. In 1958 the first Datsun 1000 were exported to the USA, but the real breakthrough came in the 1960s with the Datsun 510 (known as "poor BMW" for its excellent handling) and Datsun 240Z - a sports coupe that competed Porsche 911 at a price three times cheaper.

Datsun 240Z (1970) became the first Japanese car to be taken seriously in America as a full-fledged sports car. Its characteristics were impressive:

• 🚀 Engine: 2.4L inline 6-cylinder, 151 hp.
• ⚡ Acceleration 0–100 km/h: 8.0 sec (faster than many European competitors).
• 💰 Price: $3,526 (versus $6,000 for Porsche 911).

Success in the USA led to increased production: in 1970 Nissan opened the first plant outside Japan - in Mexico. And in 1971 it was introduced Datsun 240Z, which sold more than 500,000 copies and became a cult model.

1980–1999: Globalization, crises and the birth of legends

The 1980s were a time of change: the brand Datsun was abolished in favor of a single name Nissan (except Japan, where Datsun survived until 1986). This decision was due to the desire to strengthen the company's global image. During this period, models appeared that defined the face of the brand for decades:

• 🚙 1983 — Nissan Pulsar (the first hatchback with a turbocharger).
• 🏜️ 1986 — Nissan Pathfinder (a pioneer among Japanese SUVs).
• 💨 1989 — Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 ("Godzilla"), who dominated the races.
• 🚗 1990 — Nissan Primera (the first Japanese sedan with all-wheel drive ATTESA).

However, the 1990s became a difficult test: due to the economic crisis in Japan and management errors Nissan accumulated debts in $20 billion. The situation was saved by an alliance with Renault in 1999, who brought Carlos Ghosn, the future architect of the brand’s revival, to the company.

Why was the Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 banned in the US?

American certification rules did not allow the R32 to be imported due to the lack of a passenger airbag and failure to meet emissions standards. Today, these cars are legalized as "25-year-old classics" and sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

⚠️ Attention: Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 — the only production car that was officially included in the magazine’s “Black List” Road & Track for too high characteristics, inaccessible to ordinary drivers. He was nicknamed "illegal street killer" due to dominance in drag racing.

2000–2010: Renaissance and technological breakthroughs

The arrival of Carlos Ghosn marked radical reforms: the closure of unprofitable factories, a reduction in the model range and a focus on innovation. The results were not long in coming:

• 📈 2001 — Nissan showed profit for the first time in 7 years.
• 🚗 2002 - debut Nissan Murano, the first crossover with a continuously variable transmission CVT.
• 🔋 2010 — launch Nissan Leaf, the first mass-produced electric car.

Nissan Leaf was a revolution: it was the first electric car with lithium-ion batteries, affordable for the price of a regular family car. Its characteristics:

• 🔋 Power reserve: 175 km (by the standards of the time).
• ⚡ Charging: 80% for 30 minutes at the fast station.
• 🌍 Ecology: zero emissions CO₂.

By 2020, more than 500,000 copies Leaf, making it the most popular electric car in history (before the advent of Tesla Model 3).

2010–present: The era of electric vehicles and new challenges

Recent years Nissan focuses on electrification and autonomous technologies. The concept was presented in 2016 Nissan IDS — a prototype of an unmanned electric vehicle with artificial intelligence. And in 2022, a crossover debuted Nissan Ariya, built on a new platform CMF-EV and equipped with a system ProPILOT 2.0 (autonomy level SAE Level 2).

However, the company faced new challenges:

• 📉 Sales decline in China and Europe due to competition with Tesla and Chinese brands.
• 🔋 Battery problems: in 2022 Nissan recalled 50,000 electric vehicles due to battery defects.
• 🤝 Alliance restructuring with Renault And Mitsubishi to optimize costs.

Despite the difficulties, Nissan continues to innovate:

• 🚀 2023 — announcement of solid-state batteries (launch scheduled for 2028).
• 🌿 2026 — start of sales Nissan Hyper Force - an electric supercar with 1,341 hp.
• 🔄 2026 — translation plan 40% model range for electric traction.

Study the report Carfax or Autocheck|Check the service book for maintenance records|Make sure there are no recalls on the VIN|Test the electronics (especially for models with CVT)-->

Legendary Nissan models: from classics to supercars

Nissan produced dozens of cult cars, but some of them became real icons:

• 🏁 Nissan GT-R (2007–present) - "Godzilla", capable of accelerating to 100 km/h for 2.7 sec (modification GT-R Nismo).
• 🏜️ Nissan Patrol (1951–present) - a legendary SUV that competes with Toyota Land Cruiser.
• 🚗 Nissan Silvia (1964–2002) - an iconic rear-wheel drive drift car.
• 💡 Nissan Juke (2010–present) - the first compact crossover with a turbo engine.

Occupies a special place Nissan Skyline - the model that 60 years old production (1957–2002) has become a symbol of Japanese engineering. I wonder what Skyline GT-R was so dominant in racing that he was banned from the Japanese championship JTCC after three wins in a row (1990–1992).

Model	Years of production	Engine (max version)	Unique Feature
Nissan Skyline GT-R R34	1999–2002	RB26DETT (2.6L twin-turbo, 320 hp)	System ATTESA E-TS Pro (all-wheel drive with electronic control)
Nissan 370Z	2009–2020	VQ37VHR (3.7L V6, 332 hp)	The last "pure" sports car with a manual transmission and rear-wheel drive
Nissan Leaf (2nd generation)	2017–2023	Electric motor (214 hp)	System e-Pedal (one pedal control)

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about Nissan

🔹 Why did Nissan abandon the Datsun brand in the 1980s?

The main reason is the desire to create a unified global image. In the 1980s Datsun associated with budget cars, while Nissan wanted to position itself as a premium brand (along with Toyota And Honda). In addition, the unification of the name simplified marketing and logistics. However, in 2013 Datsun was revived for the markets of developing countries (India, Russia, Indonesia) as a budget division.

🔹 Which Nissan technologies were ahead of their time?

Nissan has repeatedly become a pioneer in the auto industry:

• 🔋 1997 — Nissan Prairie Joy became the first production car with a hybrid system (gasoline + electric motor).
• 🚗 2001 — Nissan Primera received the world's first system CVT with imitation steps.
• 🤖 2016 — Nissan Serena became the first minivan with autonomous driving system ProPILOT.

🔹 Why is the Nissan GT-R called "Godzilla"?

Nickname"Godzilla"(Godzilla) appeared in 1989 after debut Skyline GT-R R32, which dominated motorsports. Journalists compared it to a monster due to its unstoppable power: the car easily beat more expensive European sports cars. In 2007, the name was assigned to a new Nissan GT-R, which accelerated to 100 km/h faster Porsche 911 Turbo of that time.

🔹 What Nissan models are assembled in Russia?

At the factory Nissan in St. Petersburg (opened in 2009) the following models are assembled:

• Nissan Qashqai (since 2014)
• Nissan X-Trail (since 2012)
• Nissan Murano (until 2022)

Also came off the assembly line Nissan Almera (2012–2018) and Nissan Terrano (2014–2020). In 2022, due to sanctions, production was suspended, but in 2023 it resumed under the brand Datsun (model Datsun on-DO).

🔹 What is the rarest Nissan in the world?

The rarest serial Nissan considered Nissan R390 GT1 (1997–1998) - racing supercar, produced in just 2 copies to participate in Le Mans. Even rarer - a prototype Nissan APX (2005), built in a single copy. Among the road models, the limited ones are:

• Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign (50 pcs., price ~$1.1 million).
• Nissan Juke-R (23 pcs., GT-R under the hood of Juke).