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The name Nissan originated in Japan, when founder Yoshisuke Aikawa became president of Nihon Sangyo in 1928. Primarily dealing in foundries and auto parts, Nihon Sangyo debuted on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by its ticker name NISSAN in 1933. Nissan expanded beyond its Japanese roots from there, and officially came to the U.S. as Datsun in 1958.
1914-1959
Not only are Datsuns the first mass-produced Japanese vehicles, their unique automotive style makes a major impact on the U.S. market when Datsun sedans and compact pickups are first imported in the late '50s.
1933
1937
The Datsun Type 15 is the first mass-produced Japanese vehicle. Other Type 15 models include a phaeton, mini pickup and delivery van.
1957
The Nissan Skyline is the predecessor to the revolutionary Nissan GT-R®, the Skyline was first introduced in 1957. The rear-wheel drive coupe has never been commercially available in America, but it has always been a highly sought-after import. The modern Nissan R35 GT-R was introduced to the world, and made for sale in the United States, in 2009.
1958
Sharing much of its DNA with the British Austin of the day, the first Datsun introduced to the U.S. market in 1958 was the Datsun 1000 Sedan. It utilized the same platform as the Datsun pickup truck. The 1000 sedan sold 146 units in the US from 1959-1961 until replaced by the 1200 sedan, which sold 1,318 units.
1959
The first Datsun compact pickup was sold in America. Originally imported in 1958 with a 37-hp 1000-cc engine, it was soon given a boost with a 48-hp 1200-cc engine. This quarter-ton pickup firmly established Datsun in the American market. Approximately 220 American servicemen purchased this truck and imported them back to the U.S. from Japan.
Nissan produced its first cars at the flagship Nishi-ku, Yokohama headquarters in 1935. Nissan showcased its first Datsuns (a 1000 cc car and truck) at the 1959 Los Angeles Auto Show. To keep up with 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
Nissan Motor Corporation in U.S.A. (NMC) was established in Gardena, California. That same year, the SPL 201—Datsun’s very first sports car—was introduced. The sleek 4-seat roadster featured a fold-down soft-top, a "4 on the floor" transmission and a 48-hp engine (that would soon be replaced by a powerful 85-hp version).
In 1966, the first Japanese-owned production facility in North America, Nissan Mexicana manufactures its first vehicle.
Toward the end of this decade of change, Nissan built a strong reputation in both the American and the Japanese markets. The Datsun 2000 roadster, valued both for its style and performance, became synonymous with early Nissan design. Soon after, the Datsun Z changed the way people think of sports cars. The 24OZ comes to America in 1969. First unveiled at the Pierre Hotel in New York in October of 1969, the 240Z was an instant hit with media and enthusiasts alike.
1961
The first Datsun sports car was imported to the U.S. The 1200 Roadster was built with steel bodywork on the same chassis as the 220-series pickup. With only 48 hp and drum brakes all around, the first Fairlady was not sporty by today’s standards, but the top-down driving experience was pure fun nonetheless! Only 288 units were produced through 1962, and the Nissan U.S. Heritage Collection has one of only 220 imported to the U.S.
1965
The Datsun 320 was the first upgrade to the basic truck, with a 60 horsepower engine and our first 4-speed floor shift pickup truck. The featured vehicle was found in the Arizona desert and restored by Classic Datsun of Vista, CA
1967
The Datsun most-desired by collectors, the 2000 Roadster, is also 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. The Roadster won 10 SCCA National Championships between 1967 and 1987.
1967
The Datsun 411 was Nissan’s first move up market. Designed by Italian design house Pininfarina and featuring a luxurious interior, this model was more aesthetically pleasing to the American consumer. An upmarket car in Japan, sales were slowed by a higher MSRP than some American consumers were willing to pay for a compact. This was the first Datsun vehicle in the American market to feature a fully 3-speed automatic transmission by Borg Warner.
1967
The Patrol, Nissan's first SUV in the U.S., followed Land Rover’s trail and offered more power for less, but just as tough and utilitarian. Some 2,216 units were sold through 1969, until imports were halted. The Patrol was the only vehicle sold and marketed in the U.S. as a Nissan prior to 1983. The Patrol was restored by former Nissan employee Bill Thomas, who discovered it on a farm in Nebraska.
1968
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
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 car was designed to compete with British-built sports cars such as the MGB and Triumph TR6. Later, Datsun offered the Fairlady 2000 with the 2.0L 4-cylinder upgrade.
Fairlady was the beginning of Nissan's true sports car legacy. Bob Sharp won Datsun’s first SCCA National Championship in a Fairlady Roadster in 1967. More than 23,600 units were sold.
1970-1979
The 70s were a great decade for Nissan. We sold our one-millionth Datsun and became the top vehicle importer in the United States by 1975.
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; winning the SCCA Trans Am 2.5 Championship, the American Rally Championship and the treacherous East African Safari. In 1973, the 1-Millionth Vehicle is sold in America.
In 1975, Datsun becomes the top U.S. vehicle importer
Datsun: 335,415 Toyota: 328,918 VW: 268,751
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® and the Gobi pickup concept pictured here. Newer works include the second-generation TITAN, Nissan Kicks and the latest Altima and Maxima.
1971
The Datsun Coupe featured seating for five and "fold-down" rear seats. Available in U.S. from 1970-73, in which 89,541 units were sold, the Datsun 1200 became Datsun’s best-selling car of the time. The vehicle featured was used in the sales brochures and served as the field technician service training vehicle. Datsun 1200 Coupes won three SCCA C-Sedan National Championships on racetracks and were frequently seen around the U.S. at vintage racing events.
1971
Peter Brock and Brock Racing Enterprises (BRE) built and raced the number 46 Datsun 510, which won the 1971 and 1972 SCCA Trans-Am championship driven by John Morton. The featured car is the actual winning 510; it’s the only one left in all original colors and is in “as-raced” condition. With its success, this 510 began the rich racing heritage of Datsun’s and Nissan’s in the U.S. and helped to bring brand recognition to a new comer in the emerging Japanese market.
1971
In 1969 at the New York Auto Show, Datsun introduced a new sports car to the market named the 240Z. It featured a fastback styled body based on European design and a focus on the balance between performance and price. Standard equipment like a strong inline 2.4 liter 6-cylinder engine, full instrumentation reclining bucket seats at an affordable price made the Z an instant success in the U.S. market.
1972
Datsun introduces the 510—a family car with a racing heritage. It was a novel concept at the time: a good-looking, economical, fuel-efficient, five-passenger car that was fun to drive. The popular 510 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, and its influence can still be seen in the Nissans of today.
1977
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
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.
1980-1989
In the '80s, as manufacturers worldwide struggled to forge their identity, Nissan built upon its successes of the 1970s – both in the showrooms and on the racetrack. We also built our first Nissan truck in the United States.
In 1980, Nissan Motor Manufacturing Corporation (NMMC) is established in Smyrna, Tennessee, to fulfill the growing demand for Nissan vehicles. North American manufacturing operations are now integrated under the umbrella of Nissan North America (NNA). In 1981, Nissan Motor Acceptance Corporation (NMAC), Nissan's financing division, is established in Torrance, California. Today, NMAC headquarters is located in Irving, Texas. In 1989, Nissan produced our 1e-millionth vehicle on American soil, and started the Summer Institute for Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
On the track, Hollywood legend Paul Newman raced the Newman/Sharp Trans-Am 300ZX® to consecutive SCCA GT1 championships in 1985 and 1986, capturing Nissan's 50th national SCCA championship in the process.
1982
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
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
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
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. The mighty GTP ZX-T employed a turbocharged version of the 3.0 liter V6 in the third generation Maxima and 300ZX of the era.
1990-1999
Nissan demonstrates its agility by retaining the Nissan heritage while moving in new directions. In 1990, Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) is established in Torrance, California.
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, and Nissan Smyrna is lauded as the most productive plant in North America in "The Harbour Report” for a fourth consecutive year.
In 1992, the 2-millionth Nissan Sentra was sold in the United States in 1992, and the very first Altima rolled off the assembly line at our manufacturing facility in Smyrna, Tennessee. 1993 was a big year for Nissan, as we celebrated 10 years of manufacturing in the United States. That year, the NNA Smyrna-built Altima was topping the list in new nameplate sales, and the 1-millionth Maxima was sold.
Explore today's Nissan Altima® Explore today's Nissan Sentra® Explore today's Nissan Maxima®
1995
1995 was the year we introduced the world to the all-new 200SX® coupe and the all-new 4th-generation Sentra.
1999
In 1999, we 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 gave the rugged vehicles plenty of screen time on the television phenomenon “Baywatch.”
2000-2009
Nissan has nearly doubled the number of models offered and nearly doubled its sales. In 10 years, the diverse lineup has grown to include Nissan's first full-sized truck, all-new hybrid technology and a 21st-Century supercar. And this is only the beginning of what's to come.
After a six-year absence, the legendary Z returned to prominence in 2002 with the introduction of the widely acclaimed Nissan 350Z®. Under the hood was a lively 3.5-liter V6 pumped out 287 horsepower, a number that would increase every year it was in production. In 2009, the 350Z® was replaced by the more powerful 370Z®, the fastest Z ever produced.
Our first full-size truck, the TITAN®, debuted in 2003 as a 2004 model. Today, the V8-powered pickup is available with a King Cab or a Crew Cab. In 2007, Next-generation technology thrives with Maxima, Altima, Sentra, Quest, Versa Hatchback and Versa Sedan.
2005
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
In 2007, we offered a cleaner, greener driving option for the first time ever with the introduction of the all-new Altima® Hybrid.
2009
Nissan brings it 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 boxy yet stylish Nissan cube® makes its North American debut with its non-traditional, asymmetrical body.
Nissan and its Alliance Partners Renault and Mitsubishi are an automotive force collectively selling 1 in 10 cars worldwide. Production continues globally, with over 40 manufacturing locations across six continents.
Nissan is more than a car company; we are an innovation company. We take the most innovative thinking in the industry and combine it with performance, value, efficiency, safety and style. The result: cars that thrill you, every time you get behind the wheel.
2010-2020
In 2010, we introduced Nissan LEAF®—the world’s first mass-produced, 100% electric, zero emission automobile. The standard 24-kWh battery was replaced with a 30-kWh battery for 2016, featuring 107 miles of range. The 2018 LEAF introduced an all-new design and a 40-kWh battery that took range up to 151 miles, and in 2019, LEAF PLUS added an available 60-kWh battery, estimated by EPA to offer up to 226 miles of range.
Sales have grown to more than 400,000 globally, making Nissan LEAF the top-selling EV of all time.
2018
Nissan Kicks offers a bundle of technology and functionality at an attractive price. It’s a one-of-a-kind crossover that’s big on attitude and self-expression. It demands attention with dynamic styling and nimble performance, while Nissan Intelligent Mobility™ means seamless connectivity, and available advanced driver assistance features. The 2019 Nissan Kicks. Tech that moves you.
