- Nissan was founded in Japan in December 1933, although its origins can be traced back to 1911 as the Kwaishinsha Motor Car Works.
- The company’s original name was Nissan Jidosha, which translates to “Nissan Motor”. The name “Nissan” is a contraction of Nihon Sangyo, a company owned by one of Nissan’s early backers.
- The first Datsun passenger car came off the assembly line in 1935. The Datsun brand was later dropped in the 1980s to strengthen the Nissan name globally.
- During the 1950s and 1960s, Nissan expanded its operations globally, starting production plants in Mexico and Australia.
- In 1966, Nissan merged with Prince Motor Company, bringing more upmarket cars, including the Skyline and Gloria, into its range.
- The Nissan GT-R, also known as “Godzilla”, is one of the most iconic sports cars ever made, renowned for its ability to outperform many more expensive supercars.
- Nissan introduced its luxury brand, Infiniti, in 1989 to compete with other luxury brands like Toyota’s Lexus and Honda’s Acura.
- Nissan has been a pioneer in electric vehicle technology, launching the Nissan Leaf in 2010. The Leaf became the world’s best-selling electric car for a time.
- In 1999, facing severe financial difficulties, Nissan entered a strategic alliance with Renault. This alliance was further expanded in 2016 to include Mitsubishi Motors, creating one of the world’s largest auto groups.
- Nissan’s logo has evolved over time. The current logo, introduced in 2020, features a more minimalist design to reflect the changes in the automotive industry, particularly the shift towards electric vehicles.
- Nissan’s global headquarters is located in Yokohama, Japan.
- Nissan has a robotics division and developed a robot in 2009 called BR23C that mimics the behavior of bees to avoid obstacles at high speeds.
- The Nissan Z-car series, including models like the 350Z, 370Z, and upcoming 400Z, has become one of the best-selling sports car lines in the world.
- Nissan has a significant presence in motorsports, particularly in the Japanese Super GT championship and previously in the Le Mans 24 hours race.
- Nissan’s Vehicle Assembly Plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, is one of the largest automotive assembly plants in North America, producing over 640,000 vehicles annually.
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