Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., or “Nissan” for short, is a Japanese multinational industrial corporation that manufactures over 60 vehicle models under the Nissan, Datsun, and INFINITI brand names. One of the best Nissan dealer in Katy,Tx helped me to get this article written, have a read.
Having forged alliances with other automotive giants such as Mitsubishi and Renault, the Renault-Nissan partnership became the world’s 4th largest automaker in 2013. Also, Nissan became North America’s largest automobile manufacturer in 2014.
Combined, the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance is the world’s largest automotive group, having sold over 10.6 million vehicles in 2017 alone.
It’s not difficult to understand why many automobile owners love their Nissans. Adapting to ever-changing demands for nearly a century, Nissans have a long-standing reputation for longevity and reliability while remaining both accessible and affordable.
The Birth of an Automotive Titan
Nissan was born in 1925 from the merger of two companies, Kwaishinsha Co. and Jitsuyo Jidōsha Co. In June 1934, the company was named the Nissan Motor Company, manufacturing cars under the brand name Datsun.
Throughout much of World War II, Nissan’s production diverted from passenger cars to military vehicles. In 1945, Nissan ceased operations and didn’t resume until 1955.
The Post-War Era
Nissan experienced an explosion of growth shortly after, beginning with the popular Bluebird in 1958. Enjoying phenomenal sales in Japan and abroad, the company followed this up successfully with the Sunny in 1966. Cited for engineering excellence, Nissan won the Deming Prize in 1960.
Responding to the oil crises of 1973 and 1979, Nissan developed a line of fuel-efficient vehicles. Its 3rd generation Sunny received top marks in fuel economy by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1973.
Nissan would expand to other countries such as England, Australia, United States, Mexico, and South Africa to keep up with the demand.
Not all was well, however, as Nissan had accumulated substantial liabilities over the years, and this would soon catch up with their expansion efforts.
Automotive Alliances
Nissan’s financial troubles became apparent in the late 1990s. With a debt of over $20 billion and flagging domestic sales, the company needed a way to restore its profitability.
Against this backdrop, the Renault-Nissan Alliance was formed on March 27, 1999. The Alliance was unique in that it involved French and Japanese companies with potentially clashing identities and cultures.
Nissan went through dramatic changes that involved closing down five domestic plants, cutting 21,000 jobs, reducing suppliers, and selling subsidiaries such as Nissan’s aerospace and defense division.
Amazingly, the company reversed its financial woes in 2002, completely eliminating its debt and re-emerging as an industry powerhouse.
Further, in May 2016, Nissan partnered with Mitsubishi Motors, expanding production with its own line of mini cars.
The Future of Nissan
The Renault-Nissan Alliance ventured into the electric car market in 2007, predicting that 10% of new car sales in 2020 would be for electric vehicles. The Alliance poured $5.2 billion into the development of electric vehicle technology for the purpose of leading the charge into sustainable zero-emission transportation.
In 2010, Nissan introduced the Nissan LEAF (Leading Environment-friendly and Affordable Family vehicle) which was an electric hatchback. Receiving numerous citations since its inception, over 400,000 electric Nissans have been sold to date, making the LEAF the world’s best-selling electric car.
Impressively, local governments and car manufacturers on a global scale are keen on developing an “electric vehicle network” which includes a system of charging stations intended for electric vehicles.
While Nissans are not the fanciest vehicles around, their practicality and underlying philosophy in responding to real challenges deserve respect.
It would be interesting to see how developments such as sustainable, zero-emission transportation play out in the future.
