Nissan headlamps

Nissan Motor Company, Ltd. (日産自動車株式会社,, Nissan Jidōsha Kabushiki-gaisha?), shortened to Nissan is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Japan. It was formerly a core member of the Nissan Group, but has become more independent after its restructuring under Renault Carlos Ghosn (CEO).

It formerly marketed vehicles under the "Datsun" brand name and is one of the largest car manufacturers. The company's main offices are located in the Ginza area of Chūō, Tokyo. In 1999, Nissan entered an alliance with Renault S.A. of France, which owns 44.4% of Nissan as of 2008. Nissan is among the top three Asian (also known as the Japanese Big 3 Automakers) rivals of the "Big Three" in the U.S. Currently it is the third largest Japanese car manufacturer. It also manufactures the Infiniti luxury brand.

The Nissan VQ engines, of V6 configuration, have featured among Ward's 10 Best Engines for 14 straight years, since the award's inception. For the truck and bus maker "Nissan Diesel," it is a separate company from Nissan Motors; please see UD instead.

The pronunciation of its name is different in different markets. In the U.S., the brand is pronounced /ˈniːsɑːn/, while in the UK it is /ˈnɪsæn/. In Japanese, it is [nisːaɴ].

The new car's name was an acronym of the company's partners' family names:

--> Kenjiro Den (田 健次郎, Den Kenjirō?)
--> Rokuro Aoyama (青山 禄朗, Aoyama Rokurō?)
--> Meitaro Takeuchi (竹内 明太郎, Takeuchi Meitarō?).

Nissan Model 70 Phaeton, 1938

It was renamed to Kwaishinsha Motorcar Co. in 1918, and again to DAT Motorcar Co. in 1925. DAT Motors built trucks in addition to the DAT and Datsun passenger cars. The vast majority of its output was trucks, as there was almost no consumer market for cars at the time. Beginning in 1918, the first DAT trucks were produced for the military market. It was the low demand of the military market in the 1920s that forced DAT to merge in 1926 with Japan's 2nd most successful truck maker, Jitsuyo Motors.

In 1926 the Tokyo-based DAT Motors merged with the Osaka-based Jitsuyo Jidosha Co., Ltd. (実用自動車製造株式会社, Jitsuyō Jidōsha Seizō Kabushiki-Gaisha?) a.k.a. Jitsuyo Motors (established 1919, as a Kubota subsidiary) to become DAT Automobile Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (ダット自動車製造株式会社, Datto Jidōsha Seizō Kabushiki-Gaisha?) in Osaka until 1932.
New HQ building under construction(April, 2008)

In 1931, DAT came out with a new smaller car, the first "Datson", meaning "Son of DAT". Later in 1933 after Nissan took control of DAT Motors, the last syllable of Datson was changed to "sun", because "son" also means "loss" (損) in Japanese, hence the name "Datsun" (ダットサン, Dattosan?).headlamps

In 1933, the company name was Nipponized to Jidosha-Seizo Co., Ltd. (自動車製造株式会社, Jidōsha Seizō Kabushiki-Gaisha?, "Automobile Manufacturing Co., Ltd.") and was moved to Yokohama.

In 1928, Yoshisuke Aikawa founded the holding company Nippon Sangyo (Japan Industries or Nippon Industries). "The name 'Nissan' originated during the 1930s as an abbreviation" used on the Tokyo stock market for Nippon Sangyo. This company was the famous Nissan "Zaibatsu" (combine) which included Tobata Casting and Hitachi. At this time Nissan controlled foundries and auto parts businesses, but Aikawa did not enter automobile manufacturing until 1933.headlamps

Nissan would eventually grow to include 74 firms, and to be the fourth-largest combine in Japan during World War II.headlamps

In 1931, Aikawa purchased controlling(?) shares in DAT Motors, and then in 1933 it merged Tobata Casting's automobile parts department with DAT Motors. As Tobata Casting was a Nissan company, this was the beginning of Nissan's automobile manufacturing.headlamps

In 1934, Aikawa "separated the expanded automobile parts division of Tobata Casting and incorporated it as a new subsidiary, which he named Nissan Motor (Nissan)". Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (日産自動車, Nissan Jidōsha?). The shareholders of the new company however were not enthusiastic about the prospects of the automobile in Japan, so Aikawa bought out all the Tobata Casting shareholders (using capital from Nippon Industries) in June, 1934. At this time Nissan Motors effectively became owned by Nippon Sangyo and Hitachi.headlamps

Nissan built trucks, airplanes, and engines for the Japanese military. The company's main plant was moved to China after land there was captured by Japan. The plant made machinery for the Japanese war effort until it was captured by American and Russian forces. For two years (1947 to 1948) the company was briefly called Nissan Heavy Industries Corp.

DAT had inherited Kubota's chief designer who was an American, William R. Gorham. This, along with Aikawa's vision-inspiring 1908 visit to Detroit was to greatly affect Nissan's future.

Although it had always been Aikawa's intention to use the latest cutting-edge automaking technology from America, it was Gorham that carried out this plan. All the machinery, vehicle designs and engine designs originally came out of the United States. Much of the tooling came from the Graham factory and Nissan had a Graham license under which trucks were made. The machinery was imported into Japan by Mitsubishiheadlamps on behalf of Nissan, which went into the first Yokohama factory to produce cars.

From 1993-2002 Nissan partnered with Ford to market a consumer-friendly minivan: The Mercury Villager and the Nissan Quest. The two minivans were manufactured with all the same parts and were virtually identical aside from several cosmetic differences. In 2002, Ford discontinued the Villager to make room for the future Freestar and Monterey. Nissan brought out a new version of the Quest in 2004, which was designed in house and no longer related to any Ford model.

In 1992, Nissan re-launched its Terrano four-wheel drive, which was visually and mechanically identical to the Ford Maverick. Both cars were built in Spain; although the Maverick was discontinued in 1998 due to disappointing sales, the Terrano was a strong seller and remained in production until 2005 when the Nissan Pathfinder replaced it.

Like Hino and Isuzu, but unlike Toyota, Nissan partnered with an established European company to gain access to automobile and engine designs. Nissan chose Austin of the United Kingdom, which later became the British Motor Corporation by its merger with Morris et al. Nissan began building Austin 7s in 1930, though the legitimacy of their license at that time is debated.

Later, in 1952 Nissan Motor Company of Japan entered into a well-documented legal agreement with Austin ,headlamps for Nissan to assemble 2,000 Austins from imported partially assembled sets and sell them in Japan under the Austin trademark. The agreement called for Nissan to make all Austin parts locally within three years, a goal Nissan met. Nissan produced and marketed Austins for seven years. The agreement also gave Nissan rights to use Austin patents, which Nissan used in developing its own engines for its Datsun line of cars. In 1953 British-built Austins were assembled and sold, but by 1955, the Austin A50 -- completely built by Nissan and featuring a slightly larger body with new 1489 cc engine -- was on the market in Japan. Nissan produced 20,855 Austins from 1953-1959.headlamps

Engine Development: Nissan leveraged the Austin patents to further develop their own modern engine designs past what the Austin's A- and B-family designs offered. The apex of the Austin-derived engines was the new design A series engine in 1967. Also in 1967 Nissan introduced its new highly advanced four cylinder overhead cam (OHC) Nissan L engine, which while similar to Mercedes-Benz OHC designs was a totally new engine designed by Nissan. This engine powered the new Datsun 510, which gained Nissan respect in the worldwide sedan market. Then, in 1970 Nissan introduced the Datsun 240Z sports car which used a six-cylinder variation of the L series engine. The 240Z was an immediate sensation and lifted Nissan to world class status in the automobile market.headlamps

In 1966, Nissan merged with the Prince Motor Company, bringing into its range more upmarket cars, including the Skyline and Gloria. The Prince name was eventually abandoned, with successive Skylines and Glorias bearing the Nissan name - however, "Prince" is still used in names of certain Nissan dealers in Japan. Nissan introduced a new luxury brand for the US market in the early 1990s called Infiniti.

In the 1950s, Nissan made a conscious decision to expand into worldwide markets. Nissan management realized their Datsun small car line would fill an unmet need in markets such as Australia and the world's largest car market, the United States. In 1958 they first showed cars at the 1959 Los Angeles auto show, and sold a few cars that year in the United States. The company formed a U.S. subsidiary, Nissan Motor Corporation U.S.A., in 1959, headed by Yutaka Katayama. By continually technologically improving their sedans, along with chic Italianate styling and adding sporty cars such as the Datsun Fairlady roadsters, the sporty and race-winning 411 series, the Datsun 510 and the world-class Datsun 240Z sports car, by 1970 Nissan had become one of the world's largest exporters of automobiles.
Nissan GT-R

In the wake of the 1973 oil crisis, consumers worldwide (especially in the lucrative U.S. market) began turning in rapidly increasing numbers to high-quality small economy cars. Nissan made a conscious decision for their growing economy car lines to have a "sporting" flavor, and set up new factories in Mexico, Australia, Taiwan and South Africa.

The firm established assembly operations in the United States in the early 1980s, with a plant in Smyrna, Tennessee. This facility at first built only trucks and SUVs, such as the 720, Hardbody, and Pathfinder, but has since been expanded to produce several car lines. An engine plant in Decherd, Tennessee followed, and most recently a second assembly plant in Canton, Mississippi.

In order to overcome export tariffs and delivery costs to its European customers, Nissan contemplated establishing a plant inside Europe's borders. After an extensive review, Sunderland in United Kingdom was chosen due to the local availability of a highly skilled workforce and its position near major ports. The plant was completed in 1986 as the subsidiary Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd. Since then it has arisen to achieve the highly coveted title of being the most productive plant in Europe, and by 2007 will be producing 400,000 vehicles per year.

Financial difficulties (approaching billions) in Australia in the late 1980s caused Nissan to cease production there. Due to the "Button Plan" the Australian operation was unique as the Nissan products were also re-badged both by General Motors Holden (Pulsar re-badged as Holden Astra), and Ford (Bluebird re-badged as Ford Corsair).

The Nissan Titan was introduced in 2004, as a full-size pickup truck produced for the North American market, the truck shares the stretched Nissan F-Alpha platform with the Nissan Armada and Infiniti QX56 SUVs.

The Titan features a 32 valve 5.6 L VK56DE V8 engine which generates 317 hp, and is capable of towing approximately 9500 pounds. The Nissan Titan comes in four basic trim levels: XE, SE, Pro-4X, and LE. The trim levels are combinations of the features offered on the truck. It was listed by Edmunds.com as the best full-size truck. The Titan was nominated for the North American Truck of the Year award for 2004.

The Nissan Note, Micra and Qashqai in the UK are all produced at their UK factory in Washington, Sunderland. On January 9, 2009, it was announced that 1,200 jobs were to be cut at the Washington plant. The decision was blamed on economic reasons, including a downturn in the car selling market. Nissan's senior vice-president for manufacturing in Europe, Trevor Mann, said the company was "right-sizing our operations to the market demand."headlamps Nissan also produces cars at its factory at Roslyn, near Pretoria, South Africa.

Recently, it was announced that Nissan will axe 1200 jobs from the Sunderland factory as there is a sharp reduction in the number of cars being bought.headlamps

Nissan North America relocated its headquarters from Gardena, California to Nashville, Tennessee in July 2006. A new headquarters, Nissan Americas, was dedicated on July 22, 2008, in the Cool Springs area of Franklin, Tennessee. Approximately 1500 employees work in the facility.

On June 30, 2006, General Motors convened an emergency board meeting to discuss a proposal by shareholder Kirk Kerkorian to form an alliance between GM and Renault-Nissan. On October 4, 2006, however, GM and Nissan terminated talks because of the chasm between the two companies related to compensation to GM from Nissan.

On May 17, 2006 Nissan released the Atlas 20 hybrid truck in Japan. It released a Cabstar hybrid truck at the 2006 Hannover Fair.

Nissan Ireland appoint Brando as their Irish Digital Advertising Agency in November 2006. They will be responsible for all of their online marketing activity.headlamps

The company's head office is now in Tokyo but will move back to Yokohama in 2009.

The Tamil Nadu state government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with auto manufacturing consortium, Mahindra-Renault- Nissan to set up a production unit at Oragadam in suburban Chennai last week.[when?]

The consortium comprising Indian auto major Mahindra and Mahindra, Renault (France) and Nissan (Japan) will begin with an initial investment of Rs4000 crore to manufacture nearly 50,000 tractors every year other than cars, utility vehicles and spare parts. The project is expected to increase Tamil Nadu’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Rs18,000 crore annually while providing 41,000 jobs.

Nissan began development of fuel-cell vehicles (FCVs) in 1996 and launched limited lease sales of the X-Trail FCV in Japan in fiscal year 2003.

In 2002, Toyota and Nissan agree to tie-up on hybrid technologies, and in 2004, Nissan unveiled the Altima hybrid prototype.

Datsun headlamps

--> 1935–1943 Datsun 10T Pickup
--> 1970–1974 Datsun 100A
--> 1955–1957 Datsun 120 Pickup
--> 1973–1977 Datsun 140J
--> 1976–1978 Datsun 180B/180B SSS
--> 1977–1981 Datsun 200B/200B SSS
--> 1972–1977 Datsun 200L
--> 1974–1983 Datsun 200sx
--> 1978–1982 Datsun 210
--> 1957–1961 Datsun 220 Pickup
--> 1971–1975 Datsun 240C
--> 1969–1973 Datsun 240Z
--> 1971–1975 Datsun 260C
--> 1974 Datsun 260Z
--> 1975–1978 Datsun 280Z
--> 1979–1983 Datsun 280ZX
--> 1978–1982 Datsun 310
--> 1961–1965 Datsun 320 Pickup
--> 1968–1973 Datsun 510 Sedan
--> 1965–1972 Datsun 520 Pickup
--> 1971–1975 Datsun 610
--> 1973–1979 Datsun 620 "Bulletside" pickup
--> 1973–1977 Datsun 710
--> 1979.5–1986.5 Datsun 720 Pickup
--> 1976–1983 Datsun 810
--> 1946–1955 Datsun 1121 Pickup
--> 1970–1976 Datsun 1200 Sedan
--> 1962–1970 Datsun 1500, 1600, 2000 Roadster
--> 1974–1983 Datsun B-210
--> 1962–2001 Datsun Bluebird
o 1979–1986 Datsun Bluebird 910
--> 1970–1982 Datsun Cherry
--> 1952–1958 Datsun DC-3
--> 1974–1978 Datsun F-10
--> Datsun Patrol
--> 1932–1941 Datsun Roadster
--> 1960–1961 Datsun SPL 210
--> 1959–1970 Datsun Sports
--> 1965–1985 Datsun Sunny
o 1965–1969 Datsun Sunny/1000/B10
o 1971–1973 Datsun Sunny/1200/B110
o 1974–1977 Datsun Sunny/120Y/B210
o 1978–1982 Datsun Sunny/120Y/140Y/B310
o 1982–1985 Datsun/Nissan Sunny/B11
--> 1955–1986 Datsun Truck
--> 1978–1983 Datsun Urvan

Nissan

--> 1991–1996 Nissan 100NX
--> 1989–1998 Nissan 180SX (branded as 200SX in Europe)
--> 1977–2002 Nissan 200SX (Silvia)
--> 1995–1998 Nissan 200SX (US 2-door Sentra coupe)
--> 1989–1998 Nissan 240SX (JPN S13 and S14)
--> 1984–1989 Nissan 300ZX Z31 (Fairlady Z in Japan)
--> 1990–1999 Nissan 300ZX Z32 (Fairlady Z in Japan)
--> 2003–2008 Nissan 350Z Z33 (Fairlady Z in Japan)
--> 2009–present Nissan 370Z Z34 (Fairlady Z in Japan)
--> 1995–2006 Nissan Almera
--> 1993–present Nissan Altima
--> 2004–2010 Nissan Armada
--> 1984–1989 Nissan Auster
--> 1990–2003 Nissan Avenir (Expert)
--> 1990 Nissan Axxess
--> 1989 Nissan Be-1
--> 1957–present Nissan Bluebird
o 1991–1997 Nissan Bluebird U13
o 1996–2001 Nissan Bluebird U14
o 2000–present Nissan Bluebird Sylphy
--> 1960–present Nissan Cedric/Gloria
--> 1988–2003 Nissan Cefiro
--> 1970–1986 Nissan Cherry
--> 1988–present Nissan Cima
--> 1998–present Nissan Crew
--> 1998–present Nissan Cube
--> 1998–present Nissan Elgrand
--> 1959–1970 Nissan Fairlady
--> 1991 Nissan Figaro
--> 1959–present Nissan Frontier
--> 1979–1988 Nissan Gazelle
--> 2008–present Nissan GT-R
--> 1986.5–1997 Nissan Hardbody Truck
--> 1999–present Nissan Interstar (medium-size van based on Renault Master)
--> 1997–present Nissan Kubistar (rebadged Renault Kangoo)
--> 2004–present Nissan Lafesta
--> 1988–1998 Nissan Largo
--> 2007–present Nissan Latio
--> 1968–2002 Nissan Laurel
--> 1980–1999 Nissan Leopard
--> 1981–present Nissan Maxima
--> 1984–present Nissan Multi
--> 2003–present Nissan Murano
--> 1982–present Nissan Micra (Nissan March in Japan and Taiwan)
--> 2001–present Nissan Moco, a Keicar
--> 1986–present Nissan Navara
--> 2004–present Nissan Note
--> 2009–present Nissan NV200
--> 1991–1994 Nissan NX1600/NX2000
--> 1989 Nissan Pao
--> 1950–present Nissan Patrol/Safari
--> 1985–present Nissan Pathfinder
--> 1986–1992 Nissan Pintara
--> 2000–present Nissan Platina
--> 1981–present Nissan Prairie
--> 1990–1992 Nissan Presea R10
--> 1994–1996 Nissan Presea R11
--> 1965–present Nissan President
--> 1990–present Nissan Primera
--> 1978–present Nissan Pulsar
--> 1968 Nissan R380
--> 1969 Nissan R381
--> 1970 Nissan R382
--> 1989 Nissan R89C
--> 1997–1998 Nissan R390 GT1
--> 1994–1999 Nissan Rasheen
--> 2007–present Nissan Rogue
--> 2004–2010 Nissan Quest
--> 1991 Nissan Saurus Jr.
--> 1989–1992 Nissan S-Cargo
--> 1982–present Nissan Sentra
--> 1991–present Nissan Serena (originally Vanette Serena in Japan)
--> 1988–2002 Nissan Silvia/180SX/200SX/240SX
--> 1957–present Nissan Skyline
o 1969–1977, 1989–2002 Nissan Skyline GT-R
--> 1977–1992 Nissan Stanza
o 1986–1988 Nissan Stanza Wagon
o 1982–1986 Nissan Violet
--> 1996–2007 Nissan Stagea
--> 1965–present Nissan Sunny
o 1986–1991 Nissan Sunny/B12
--> 1986–1990 Nissan T12 / T72
--> 2003–present Nissan Teana
--> 1986–present Nissan Terrano
--> 1993–2006 Nissan Terrano II
--> 2004–2010 Nissan Titan
--> 1986–present Nissan Urvan
--> 1981–present Nissan Van C22 (Vanette)
--> 1994–2005 Nissan Wingroad
--> 2000–present Nissan Xterra
--> 2001–present Nissan X-Trail
--> 2007–present Nissan Versa
--> 1995–2007 Nissan Winner (SUV based on the D22, UAE)