Nissan
Japanese automaker, part of Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance since 1999.
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., a Japanese multinational carmaker, is based in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. Its vehicles are sold under the Nissan and Infiniti brands, while the Datsun nameplate is no longer used; performance tuning is handled in-house by Nismo and Autech. The company’s roots stretch back to the early 1900s and the Nissan zaibatsu (business group). Since 1999, Nissan has operated within the Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance. As of November 2023, Renault owns 15% of Nissan’s voting shares, and Nissan holds a reciprocal 15% stake in Renault. In 2017, Nissan ranked as the world’s sixth-largest automaker; by 2022, it was ninth-largest by revenue.
The company’s origins trace to 1911, when Masujiro Hashimoto founded a firm in Tokyo that produced its first car, the DAT, in 1914. The DAT name combined the initials of its investors. After several name changes and mergers, including with Jitsuyo Jidosha, the company became DAT Automobile Manufacturing Inc. in 1929. In 1931, it introduced a smaller car called the Datson, meaning “Son of DAT,” later changed to Datsun because “son” also means “loss” in Japanese. The Nissan name itself emerged in the 1930s as a stock exchange abbreviation for Nihon Sangyo, the holding company of Yoshisuke Aikawa. Aikawa’s zaibatsu grew to 74 firms and became Japan’s fourth-largest during World War II. In 1933, DAT became part of Tobata Casting, a Nissan affiliate, marking Nissan’s entry into auto manufacturing. Aikawa separated the auto parts division in 1934, forming Nissan Motor, and bought out skeptical shareholders using capital from Nihon Industries. A Yokohama plant was completed in 1935, and the first car built on an integrated assembly line rolled out that year. Nissan produced trucks, airplanes, and engines for the Imperial Japanese Army, and in 1937 moved its headquarters to Xinjing, Manchukuo, renaming itself Manchuria Heavy Industries Developing Co. After the war, the company returned to Tokyo and was renamed Nissan Heavy Industries until 1949. American engineer William R. Gorham, inherited from Kubota, and Aikawa’s 1908 visit to Detroit shaped Nissan’s adoption of U.S. technology. The company assembled larger vehicles under the Nissan brand in 1937 using designs and facilities from the Graham-Paige Company. In 2024, after a financial loss, new CEO Ivan Espinosa announced plans to close seven factories and cut 20,000
- field
- Automobile manufacturing
- nationality
- Japanese
- headquarters
- Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
- known_for
- Nissan, Infiniti, Datsun brands; part of Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance
- key_historical_figure
- Yoshisuke Aikawa
Lore & Background
Nissan is a Japanese multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. The company sells vehicles under the Nissan and Infiniti brands, and formerly the Datsun brand, with in-house performance tuning products under the Nismo and Autech brands. Its origins trace to the early 20th century and the Nissan zaibatsu, or Nissan Group. Since 1999, Nissan has been part of the Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance, with Mitsubishi joining in 2016. Renault holds a 15% voting stake in Nissan, while Nissan holds a 15% stake in Renault. As of October 2016, Nissan held a 34% controlling stake in Mitsubishi Motors, reduced to 24% in November 2024. In 2017, Nissan was the sixth largest automaker globally, and with $78 billion in revenue in 2022, it ranked ninth. After a loss in the 2024/2025 financial year, new CEO Ivan Espinosa announced plans to close seven factories by 2027, cut 20,000 jobs, and reduce car models from 56 to 45 to focus on more profitable models. The company’s history began with Masujiro Hashimoto founding a company in 1911, producing its first car, the DAT, in 1914. The name Datsun originated from the 1931 Datsun Type 11, meaning “Son of DAT,” later changed from “Datson” because “son” means “loss” in Japanese. The Nissan name came from an abbreviation used on the Tokyo Stock Exchange for Nihon Sangyo, a holding company founded by Yoshisuke Aikawa in 1928. American engineer William R. Gorham, formerly of Kubota, served as chief designer and brought U.S. machinery and processes, including design plans from the Graham-Paige Company, which influenced Nissan’s larger vehicles from 1937.
Reader's Guide
Nissan's significance lies in its evolution from a small Tokyo carmaker into a global automotive powerhouse, shaped by early American engineering influence and later by strategic alliances. The company's early adoption of licensed Austin technology allowed it to develop competitive engines, culminating in the Datsun 240Z, which established Nissan as a serious player in the world market. Its participation in the Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance since 1999 has been a defining feature of its modern era, though the alliance has seen shifts in ownership stakes, including Nissan reducing its stake in Mitsubishi Motors from 34% to 24% in November 2024. The company's history reflects broader trends in Japanese industrialization and global automotive competition.
Did You Know?
- The name 'Datsun' originally was 'Datson' (son of DAT), but was changed because 'son' means 'loss' in Japanese.
- American engineer William R. Gorham, who designed for Kubota, became chief designer at DAT and was called 'the founder of the Nissan Motor Company' by David Halberstam.
- In November 2024, Nissan reduced its controlling stake in Mitsubishi Motors from 34% to 24%.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Nissan?
Nissan is a Japanese multinational carmaker that builds vehicles under the Nissan, Infiniti, and formerly Datsun names. Its corporate headquarters sits in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.
What is the Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance?
It is a cross-shareholding partnership created in 1999 that ties Nissan, Renault, and Mitsubishi together as strategic partners. As of November 2023, Renault owns a 15% voting stake in Nissan while Nissan holds a matching 15% in Renault.
What in-house performance tuning arms does Nissan operate?
Nissan runs two internal tuning divisions: Nismo, which focuses on track-ready performance parts, and Autech, which leans toward refined, luxury-oriented upgrades.
How large is Nissan on the global stage?
In 2017 Nissan ranked as the sixth-largest automaker in the world by volume. It continues to compete globally through its multi-brand lineup and its position within the Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance.
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