Difference between revisions of "Nissan Motors" - New World Encyclopedia

From New World Encyclopedia
(New page: {{credits|Nissan Motors|211832047}})
 
Line 1: Line 1:
 +
{{redirect6|Nissan|the Hebrew month|Nisan||}}
 +
 +
{{Infobox_Company |
 +
company_name = Nissan Motor Company, Limited<small><br />''Nissan Jidosha Kabushiki-gaisha''<br />日産自動車株式会社</small> |
 +
company_logo = [[Image:Nissan Logo.jpg|center|165px|Nissan Logo]]|<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Nissan logo.png|150px]]  —>|
 +
company_type = [[Public company|Public]] ({{tyo|7201}}; {{nasdaq|NSANY}}) |
 +
country = Japan |
 +
slogan = ''"SHIFT_"''|
 +
foundation = [[1932]] |
 +
location = {{Flagicon|Japan}} HQ in [[Chūō, Tokyo|Chūō]], [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]]<br />(Officially registered in [[Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama|Kanagawa-ku]], [[Yokohama]], [[Kanagawa Prefecture|Kanagawa]], Japan)|
 +
key_people = Kenjiro Den, Founder<br />Rokuro Aoyama, Founder<br>Meitaro Takeuchi, Founder<br />[[Yoshisuke Aikawa]], Founder<br />[[Carlos Ghosn]], [[CEO]], [[President]], [[Chairman|Co-Chair]]<br />[[Itaru Koeda]], Co-Chair, [[Executive Vice President|Exec. VP]]<br />[[Takeshi Isayama]], Vice Chair<br />[[Toshiyuki Shiga]], [[Chief operating officer|COO]]<br />[[Nobuo Okubo]], Exec. VP, Director|
 +
industry = [[Automotive]]|
 +
products = Automobiles, engines, electronics, communications, etc. |
 +
subsid = |
 +
revenue = {{profit}}$88.77 billion [[United States dollar|USD]] ([[2007]])<ref>[http://biz.yahoo.com/ic/41/41879.html Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Company Profile - Yahoo! Finance<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref>|
 +
num_employees = 186,336 (2007)|
 +
homepage = [http://www.nissan-global.com/ www.nissan-global.com]
 +
}}
 +
{{nihongo|'''Nissan Motor Company, Limited'''|日産自動車株式会社,|Nissan Jidōsha Kabushiki-gaisha}}, shortened to '''Nissan''' is a [[multinational corporation|multinational]] [[automaker]] headquartered in [[Japan]].
 +
 +
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|Chūō]], [[Tokyo]] with disassembling by 2013, but Nissan plans to move its [[headquarters]] to [[Yokohama]], [[Kanagawa Prefecture|Kanagawa]] by 2010, with construction starting in 2007. In 1999, Nissan entered an alliance with [[Renault|Renault S.A.]] of [[France]]. Nissan is among the top three Asian rivals of the "[[Big Three automobile manufacturers|big three]]" in the U.S. Currently they are the third largest Japanese car manufacturer. It operates the [[Infiniti]] brand.
 +
 +
The [[Nissan VQ engine]]s, of V6 configuration, have featured among [[Ward's 10 Best Engines]] for 12 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 {{pronEng|ˈniːsɑːn}}, while in the UK it is {{IPA|/ˈnɪsən/}}. In Japanese, it is {{IPA2|nisːãɴ}}.
 +
 +
==History==
 +
===Beginnings of Datsun name from 1914===
 +
In [[1914]], the {{nihongo|Kwaishinsha Motorcar Works|快進自動車工場|Kaishin Jidōsha Kōjō}}, established three years earlier, in Azabu-Hiroo District in [[Tokyo]], built the first DAT. The new car's name was an [[acronym]] of the company's partners' [[family name]]s:
 +
*{{nihongo|Kenjiro '''D'''en|田 健次郎|''Den Kenjirō''}}
 +
*{{nihongo|Rokuro '''A'''oyama|青山 禄朗|''Aoyama Rokurō''}}
 +
*{{nihongo|Meitaro '''T'''akeuchi|竹内 明太郎|''Takeuchi Meitarō''}}.
 +
The works was renamed to Kwaishinsha Motorcar Co. in 1918, and again, in 1925, to DAT Motorcar Co.
 +
[[Image:Nissan Model 70 Phaeton.jpg|thumb|right|Nissan Model 70 Phaeton, 1938]]
 +
 +
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 {{nihongo|Jitsuyo Jidosha Co., Ltd.|実用自動車製造株式会社|Jitsuyō Jidōsha Seikoku Kabushiki-Gaisha}} a.k.a. Jitsuyo Motors (established 1919, as a [[Kubota]] subsidiary) to become {{nihongo|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.
 +
 +
[[Image:NISSAN New Headquarters Building(Under construction in Apr in 2008).jpeg|200px|right|thumb|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 language|Japanese]], hence the name {{nihongo|"[[Datsun]]"|ダットサン|Dattosan}}.<ref>Cusumano page 33</ref>
 +
 +
In [[1933]], the company name was Nipponized to {{nihongo|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]].
 +
 +
===Nissan name first used in 1930s===
 +
[[Image:Aikawa Yosuke.jpg|right|thumb|150px|First President Yoshisuke Aikawa in 1939]]
 +
In 1928, [[Yoshisuke Aikawa]] founded the holding company Nippon Sangyo (Japan Industries or Nippon Industries). "Then name 'Nissan' originated during the 1930s as an abbreviation"<ref>Cusumano pp 28</ref> 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.<ref>Cusumano pp 28, 30, 33</ref>
 +
 +
Nissan would eventually grow to include 74 firms, and to be the fourth-largest combine in Japan during [[World War II]].<ref>Cusumano pp 28, 30</ref>
 +
 +
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.<ref>Cusumano pp 30.</ref>
 +
 +
===Nissan Motors founded in 1934===
 +
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)". {{nihongo|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 [[Nissan Group|Nippon Sangyo and Hitachi]].<ref>Cusumano, page 37</ref>
 +
 +
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 {{nihongo|Nissan Heavy Industries Corp
 +
 +
===Nissan's early American connection===
 +
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 [[USA]]. 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 [[Mitsubishi]]<ref>[http://jcgi.pathfinder.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,787959,00.html "Awful"] ([[1935]]-[[01-21]])- Retrieved [[2007]]-[[06-11]]</ref> on behalf of Nissan, which went into the first Yokohama factory to produce
 +
 +
===Relationship with Ford Motor Company===
 +
From 1993-2002 Nissan partnered with [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] to market a consumer-friendly minivan. The [[Mercury Villager]] and the [[Nissan Quest]]. The 2 minivans were manufactured with all the same parts and were virtually identical aside from several cosmetic differences. In 2002 [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] discontinued their [[Mercury (automobile)|Mercury]] version of the [[Nissan Quest]] to make room for the future [[Ford Freestar|Freestar]] and [[Ford Freestar|Monterey]]. Nissan continued to produce the [[Nissan Quest|Quest]] and are still presently manufactured .
 +
 +
In [[1992]], Nissan re-launched its Patrol four-wheel drive, which was visually and mechanically identical to the [[Nissan Mistral|Ford Maverick]]. Both cars were built in [[Spain]], although the Maverick was discontinued in [[1998]] due to disappointing sales, the Patrol was a strong seller and remains in production today.
 +
 +
===Tie-ups with Austin Motor Company===
 +
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 Motor Company|Austin]] of the [[United Kingdom]], which later became the [[British Motor Corporation]] by its merger with [[Morris (car)|Morris]] et al. Nissan began building [[Austin 7]]s 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 ,<ref>Cususmano</ref> 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&nbsp;cc engine — was on the market in Japan. Nissan produced 20,855 Austins from 1953-1959.<ref>Cusumano, pp 90-92</ref>
 +
 +
Engine Development: Nissan leveraged the Austin patents to further develop their own modern engine designs past what the Austin's [[BMC A-Series engine|A-]] and [[BMC B-Series engine|B-family]] designs offered. The apex of the Austin-derived engines was the new design [[Nissan A engine|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.{{Fact|date=September 2007}}
 +
 +
===Merger with Prince Motor Company===
 +
In [[1966]], Nissan merged with the [[Prince Motor Company]], bringing into its range more upmarket cars, including the [[Nissan Skyline|Skyline]] and [[Nissan Gloria|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]].
 +
 +
===Foreign expansion===
 +
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 [[Nissan Bluebird|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.
 +
 +
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]].
 +
 +
[[Image:Nissan GT-R 01.JPG|thumb|215px|right|2009 [[Nissan GT-R]]]]
 +
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 [[Datsun 720|720]], [[Nissan Hardbody Truck|Hardbody]], and [[Nissan Pathfinder|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).
 +
 +
=== Trucks ===
 +
[[Image:Nissan Titan King Cab 002.jpg|225px|thumb|right|2006 Nissan Titan King Cab]]
 +
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 [[SUV]]s.
 +
 +
The Titan features a 32 valve 5.6&nbsp;[[Liter|L]]  ''[[Nissan VK engine|VK56DE]]'' [[V8 engine]] which generates 305&nbsp;[[horsepower|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 Car of the Year|North American Truck of the Year]]'' award for 2004.
 +
 +
 +
===Alliance with Renault===
 +
In [[1999]], with Nissan facing severe financial difficulties, Nissan entered an alliance with [[Renault|Renault S.A.]] of France.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/COMPANY/ALLIANCE/index.html|title=Nissan Global}}</ref>
 +
 +
Signed on [[March 27]] [[1999]], the Renault-Nissan Alliance is the first of its kind involving a [[Japan|Japanese]] and a [[France|French]] car manufacturer, each with its own distinct corporate culture and brand identity. The same year, Renault appointed its own Chief Operating Officer, [[Carlos Ghosn]], as Chief Operating Officer of Nissan and took a 22.5% stake in [[Nissan Diesel]]. Later that year, Nissan fired its top Japanese executives.
 +
 +
The Renault-Nissan Alliance is a unique group of two global companies linked by cross-shareholding, with Renault holding 44.3% of Nissan shares, while Nissan holds 15% of Renault shares.
 +
 +
Under president Ghosn's "Nissan Revival Plan" (NRP), the company has rebounded in what many leading economists consider to be one of the most spectacular corporate turnarounds in history, catapulting Nissan to record profits and a dramatic revitalization of both its Nissan and [[Infiniti]] model line-ups. Despite the turnaround, Infiniti sales have been a disappointment. In 2001, the company initiated Nissan 180, capitalizing on the success of the NRP. The targets set with 180 were an additional sale of 1 million cars, achieving [[operating margin]]s of 8%, and to have zero automotive debts. Ghosn has been recognized in [[Japan]] for the company's turnaround in the midst of an ailing Japanese economy. Ghosn and the Nissan turnaround were featured in Japanese [[manga]] and popular culture. His achievements in revitalizing Nissan were noted by [[Emperor Akihito]], who awarded him the Japan Medal with Blue Ribbon in 2004.
 +
 +
In [[December]] [[1999]], legal action was instituted by Nissan Motors seeking $10,000,000 in damages from Uzi Nissan, founder and president of [[Nissan Computer|Nissan Computer Corp]]. The outcome of the case is still unresolved, although Nissan.com has not yet been turned over to Nissan Motors.
 +
 +
The first product of the Nissan-Renault alliance was the [[Nissan Primera]], launched in [[2001]] and based on the [[Renault Laguna]] that had been launched in [[2000]]. Subsequently, [[Nissan|Nissan's]] [[Nissan Micra|Micra]], [[Nissan Note|Note]] and [[Nissan Versa|Versa]] models have shared the same mechanical design as the [[Renault Clio]].
 +
 +
===Recent news===
 +
The Nissan Note, Micra and Qashqai in the UK are all produced at their UK factory in [[Washington, Tyne and Wear|Washington, Sunderland]].
 +
Nissan also produces cars at its factory at Roslyn, near [[Pretoria]], [[South Africa]].
 +
 +
In 2002, [[Toyota]] and Nissan agree to tie-up on hybrid technologies, and in 2004, Nissan unveiled the [[Altima]] [[Hybrid vehicle|hybrid]] prototype.
 +
 +
Nissan began development of [[hydrogen vehicles|fuel-cell vehicles]] (FCVs) in 1996 and launched limited lease sales of the [[X-Trail]] FCV in Japan in fiscal year 2003.
 +
 +
On [[May 17]], [[2006]] Nissan released the [[Atlas 20]] [[hybrid vehicle|hybrid truck]] in Japan. It released a [[Cabstar]] hybrid truck at the 2006 [[Hannover Fair]].
 +
 +
On [[June 30]], [[2006]], [[General Motors]] convened an emergency board meeting to discuss a proposal by shareholder [[Kirk Kerkorian]] to form an alliance between [[General Motors|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.
 +
 +
The company's head office is now in Tokyo but will move back to Yokohama in 2009. Nissan North America relocated its headquarters from [[Gardena, California]] to [[Nashville, Tennessee]] in July 2006. A new headquarters is being built in [[Franklin, Tennessee]], due to be complete in the summer of 2008.
 +
 +
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.
 +
 +
The consortium comprising [[India]]n 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.
 +
 +
==Leadership==
 +
Presidents and [[Chief Executive Officer]]s of Nissan:
 +
*1933-1939 [[Yoshisuke Aikawa]]
 +
*1939-1942 [[Masasuke Murakami]]
 +
*1942-1944 [[Genshichi Asahara]]
 +
*1944-1945 [[Haruto Kudo]]
 +
*1945 [[Takeshi Murayama]]
 +
*1945-1947 [[Souji Yamamoto]]
 +
*1947-1951 [[Taichi Minoura]]
 +
*1951-1957 [[Genshichi Asahara]]
 +
*1957-1973 [[Katsuji Kawamata]]
 +
*1973-1977 [[Tadahiro Iwakoshi]]
 +
*1977-1985 [[Takashi Ishihara]]
 +
*1985-1992 [[Yutaka Kume]]
 +
*1992-1996 [[Yoshifume Tsuji]]
 +
*1996-2000 [[Yoshikazu Hanawa]]
 +
*2000-present [[Carlos Ghosn]]
 +
 +
==Products==
 +
===Automotive products===
 +
[[Image:2nd-Infiniti-G35.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Infiniti G35]]
 +
:''Main articles: [[List of Nissan vehicles]] and [[List of Nissan engines]].''
 +
Nissan has produced an extensive range of mainstream cars and [[truck]]s, initially for domestic consumption but exported around the world since the 1950s. There was a major strike in 1953.
 +
 +
It also produced several memorable [[sports car]]s, including the [[Datsun 1500, 1600, 2000 Roadster|Datsun Fairlady 1500, 1600 and 2000 Roadsters]], the [[Nissan Z-car|Z-car]], an affordable sports car originally introduced in 1969; and the [[Skyline GT-R]], a powerful [[all-wheel-drive]] sports coupe.
 +
 +
In 1985, Nissan created a tuning division, ''[[Nismo|NISMO]]'', for competition and performance development of such cars.Nismo's latest model is the 350Z LM.
 +
 +
The recently launched mid-sized Nissan [[Nissan Navara|Navara]] truck has {{convert|175|bhp|abbr=on}}.
 +
 +
Until 1982, Nissan automobiles in most [[export]] markets were sold under the [[Datsun]] [[brand]]. Since 1989, Nissan has sold its luxury models in North America under the [[Infiniti]] brand.
 +
 +
Nissan also sells a small range of [[keicar]]s, mainly as a [[joint venture]] with other Japanese manufacturers like [[Suzuki]] or [[Mitsubishi Motors|Mitsubishi]]. Nissan does not develop these cars. Nissan also has shared model development of Japan domestic cars with other manufacturers, particularly [[Mazda]], [[Subaru]], [[Suzuki]] and [[Isuzu]].
 +
 +
In China, Nissan produces cars in association with the [[Dongfeng Motor Group]] including the 2006 [[Nissan Livina Geniss]]. This is the first in the range of a new worldwide family of medium sized cars and is to make its world debut at the [[Guangzhou International Motor Show]].
 +
 +
Nissan launches Qashqai SUV in South Africa, along with their new motorsport [http://www.qashqaicargames.co.za/ Qashqai Car Games].
 +
 +
==== Alternative propulsion ====
 +
Carlos Ghosn, chief executive of [[Nissan Motor]], which is 44% owned by [[Renault]], plans to start selling [[electric car]]s in 2012 as the company anticipates demand from city drivers. ''It would be good date for both for Renault and Nissan'' to introduce [[mass-market]] electric cars, Ghosn told a group of journalists at the Tokyo Motor Show on Wednesday October 24, 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eetimes.eu/france/199700777?cid=RSSfeed_eetimesEU_france |title=Israel, Jordan in electric car talks with Renault, Toyota, say reports |author=Amir Ben-Artzi |publisher=EE Times Europe |date=2007-05-22 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/46560/story.htm |title=Renault to Develop Electric Cars for Israel |publisher=Planet Ark |date=2008-01-22 }}</ref>
 +
 +
Renault-Nissan Motors is in the Advisory Council of the [[PHEV Research Center]].
 +
 +
Nissan Motor and [[Robert Bosch GmbH]] are in talks to form a comprehensive alliance in hybrid systems and parts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.greencarcongress.com/2007/11/report-nissan-b.html#more |title=Nissan, Bosch in Talks on Hybrid Systems |publisher=Green Car Congress |date=2007-11-14 }}</ref>
 +
 +
When Nissan launches its new line of electrical vehicles in America in 2010, it will initially target fleet buyers, which can provide their own charging stations. "It will be a real business," says Tom Lane, Nissan's global product-planning chief, "not just a way to sell 200 cars in California." He expects sales to retail buyers to begin in 2012, at a price of around $25,000. <ref>http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=101846&topicId=103840033&docId=l:788745319</ref>
 +
 +
Nissan is also hedging its bets by developing both a "parallel hybrid" system (akin to that found in the Toyota Prius) and a plug-in "series hybrid" similar to the Chevy Volt. But it favours the all-electric approach, even though it will be a tough sell, says Mr Lane. As for Mr Ghosn, he has no doubts. "We must have zero-emission vehicles," he says. "Nothing else will prevent the world from exploding."  <ref>http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=101846&topicId=103840033&docId=l:788745319</ref>
 +
 +
===Non-automotive products===
 +
Nissan has also had a number of ventures outside the automotive industry, most notably the Tu-Ka mobile phone service (est. 1994), which was sold to DDI and Japan Telecom (both now merged into [[KDDI Corporation]]) in 1999. Nissan also owns Nissan Marine, a joint venture with Tohatsu Corp that produces motors for boats and other maritime equipment.
 +
 +
== Manufacturing locations ==
 +
*{{flagicon|Japan}} [[Japan]]
 +
**Oppama, [[Yokosuka, Kanagawa]] (Oppama Plant & Research Center)
 +
**[[Kaminokawa, Tochigi]] (Tochigi Plant)
 +
**[[Kanda, Fukuoka]] (Kyushu Plant)
 +
**[[Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama|Kanagawa-ku]], [[Yokohama, Kanagawa]] (Yokohama Plant)
 +
**[[Iwaki, Fukushima]] (Iwaki Plant)
 +
**[[Hiratsuka, Kanagawa]] ([http://www.nissan-shatai.co.jp/ENG/index.html Nissan Shatai] Shonan Plant)
 +
**[[Nagoya, Aichi]] ([http://www.aichikikai.co.jp/english/index.html Aichi Machine Industry] Atsuta & Eitoku Plants)
 +
**[[Matsusaka, Mie]] (Aichi Machine Industry Matsusaka Plant)
 +
**[[Tsu, Mie]] (Aichi Machine Industry Tsu Plant)
 +
**[[Uji, Kyoto]] (Auto Works Kyoto)
 +
**[[Ageo, Saitama]] ([[UD|Nissan Diesel Motor]], currently owned by the [[Volvo Group]])
 +
**[[Samukawa, Kanagawa]] ([http://www.nissan-kohki.jp/english.htm Nissan Kohki])
 +
**[[Zama, Kanagawa]] (Zama Plant closed in 1995, currently Global Production Engineering Center)
 +
*{{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Brazil]]
 +
**[[São José dos Pinhais]]
 +
*{{Flagicon|Indonesia}} [[Indonesia]]
 +
**[[Cikampek]], [[West Java]]
 +
*{{flagicon|Malaysia}} [[Malaysia]]
 +
**[[Segambut]], [[Kuala Lumpur]]
 +
**[[Serendah]], [[Selangor]]
 +
*{{flagicon|Mexico}} [[Mexico]]
 +
**[[Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes]]
 +
**[[Cuernavaca]], [[CIVAC]]
 +
*{{flagicon|Philippines}} [[Philippines]]
 +
**[[Santa Rosa City]], [[Laguna (province)|Laguna]]
 +
*{{flagicon|South Africa}} South Africa
 +
**[[Rosslyn]]
 +
*{{flagicon|Spain}} [[Spain]]
 +
**[[Barcelona]]
 +
**[[Ávila]]
 +
*{{flagicon|Thailand}} [[Thailand]]
 +
**Bangna, Samutprakan
 +
*{{flagicon|Taiwan}} [[Taiwan]]
 +
**[[Taipei]]
 +
*{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} United Kingdom
 +
**[[Sunderland]], [[North East England|North East]]
 +
*{{flagicon|United States}} United States
 +
**[[Smyrna, Tennessee]]
 +
**[[Canton, Mississippi]]
 +
**[[Decherd, Tennessee]]
 +
 +
==See also==
 +
{{Portal|Japanese Car}}
 +
*[[Nissan Diesel]]
 +
*[[Nissan Group]]
 +
*[[Datsun]]
 +
*[[Renault]]
 +
*[[Jatco]]
 +
*[[Dongfeng Motor Company]]
 +
*[[Dongfeng Nissan-Diesel Company]]
 +
*[[List of Nissan vehicles]]
 +
*[[List of Nissan engines]]
 +
*[[Laurence Hartnett]]
 +
*[[Project Better Place]]
 +
*[[NEC]]
 +
*[[Nissan Engine Museum]]
 +
*[[Yokohama F. Marinos]]
 +
 +
==Notes and references==
 +
{{Reflist|2}}
 +
*{{cite book
 +
|author=Cusumano, Michael A.
 +
|title=The Japanese Automobile Industry
 +
|publisher=Harvard University Press
 +
|date=1985
 +
|id=ISBN 0-674-47255-1
 +
}}
 +
 +
==External links==
 +
{{commons|Category:Nissan|Nissan}}
 +
*[http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/index.html Nissan Global website]
 +
*[http://www.nissan.com/ Nissan Computer Corp website]
 +
*[http://www.350zmotoring.com 350ZMotoring.com | Nissan 350Z Forums]
 +
 +
<!-- Wikipedia is not a collection of links.  Please do not add any fan or community sites to this list. —>
 +
{{nissan}}
 +
{{TOPIX 100}}
 +
{{Japanese Automobile Industry}}
 +
{{Nissan Sportscar Racers}}
 +
{{UD}}
 +
{{Modern European Nissan vehicles}}
 +
 +
[[Category:Nissan| ]
 +
[[Category:Battery electric vehicle manufacturers]]
 +
[[Category:Conglomerate companies]]
 +
[[Category:Motor vehicle manufacturers of Japan]]
 +
[[Category:Nissan]]
 +
[[Category:Companies based in Tokyo]]
 +
[[Category:Companies based in Nashville]]
 +
[[Category:Truck manufacturers]]
 +
[[Category:Automotive companies of Japan]]
 +
[[Category:Car manufacturers]]
 +
[[Category:Companies established in 1932]]
 +
 +
 +
 
{{credits|Nissan Motors|211832047}}
 
{{credits|Nissan Motors|211832047}}

Revision as of 15:17, 12 May 2008

"Nissan" redirects here. For the Hebrew month, see Nisan. For other uses, see Nissan (disambiguation).
Nissan Motor Company, Limited
Nissan Jidosha Kabushiki-gaisha
日産自動車株式会社
Nissan Logo
Type Public (TYO: 7201; NASDAQ: NSANY)
Founded 1932
Headquarters Flag of Japan HQ in Chūō, Tokyo, Japan
(Officially registered in Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan)
Key people Kenjiro Den, Founder
Rokuro Aoyama, Founder
Meitaro Takeuchi, Founder
Yoshisuke Aikawa, Founder
Carlos Ghosn, CEO, President, Co-Chair
Itaru Koeda, Co-Chair, Exec. VP
Takeshi Isayama, Vice Chair
Toshiyuki Shiga, COO
Nobuo Okubo, Exec. VP, Director
Industry Automotive
Products Automobiles, engines, electronics, communications, etc.
Revenue Green Arrow Up Darker.svg$88.77 billion USD (2007)[1]


Employees 186,336 (2007)


Slogan "SHIFT_"
Website www.nissan-global.com


Nissan Motor Company, Limited (日産自動車株式会社, Nissan Jidōsha Kabushiki-gaisha), shortened to Nissan is a multinational automaker headquartered in Japan.

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 with disassembling by 2013, but Nissan plans to move its headquarters to Yokohama, Kanagawa by 2010, with construction starting in 2007. In 1999, Nissan entered an alliance with Renault S.A. of France. Nissan is among the top three Asian rivals of the "big three" in the U.S. Currently they are the third largest Japanese car manufacturer. It operates the Infiniti brand.

The Nissan VQ engines, of V6 configuration, have featured among Ward's 10 Best Engines for 12 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 /ˈnɪsən/. In Japanese, it is IPA: [nisːãɴ].

History

Beginnings of Datsun name from 1914

In 1914, the Kwaishinsha Motorcar Works (快進自動車工場 Kaishin Jidōsha Kōjō), established three years earlier, in Azabu-Hiroo District in Tokyo, built the first DAT. 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).

The works was renamed to Kwaishinsha Motorcar Co. in 1918, and again, in 1925, to DAT Motorcar Co.

Nissan Model 70 Phaeton, 1938

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 Seikoku 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.

File:NISSAN New Headquarters Building(Under construction in Apr in 2008).jpeg
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).[2]

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.

Nissan name first used in 1930s

First President Yoshisuke Aikawa in 1939

In 1928, Yoshisuke Aikawa founded the holding company Nippon Sangyo (Japan Industries or Nippon Industries). "Then name 'Nissan' originated during the 1930s as an abbreviation"[3] 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.[4]

Nissan would eventually grow to include 74 firms, and to be the fourth-largest combine in Japan during World War II.[5]

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.[6]

Nissan Motors founded in 1934

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.[7]

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 {{nihongo|Nissan Heavy Industries Corp

Nissan's early American connection

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 USA. 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 Mitsubishi[8] on behalf of Nissan, which went into the first Yokohama factory to produce

Relationship with Ford Motor Company

From 1993-2002 Nissan partnered with Ford to market a consumer-friendly minivan. The Mercury Villager and the Nissan Quest. The 2 minivans were manufactured with all the same parts and were virtually identical aside from several cosmetic differences. In 2002 Ford discontinued their Mercury version of the Nissan Quest to make room for the future Freestar and Monterey. Nissan continued to produce the Quest and are still presently manufactured .

In 1992, Nissan re-launched its Patrol 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 Patrol was a strong seller and remains in production today.

Tie-ups with Austin Motor Company

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 ,[9] 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.[10]

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.[citation needed]

Merger with Prince Motor Company

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.

Foreign expansion

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.

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.

2009 Nissan GT-R

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).

Trucks

2006 Nissan Titan King Cab

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 305 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.


Alliance with Renault

In 1999, with Nissan facing severe financial difficulties, Nissan entered an alliance with Renault S.A. of France.[11]

Signed on March 27 1999, the Renault-Nissan Alliance is the first of its kind involving a Japanese and a French car manufacturer, each with its own distinct corporate culture and brand identity. The same year, Renault appointed its own Chief Operating Officer, Carlos Ghosn, as Chief Operating Officer of Nissan and took a 22.5% stake in Nissan Diesel. Later that year, Nissan fired its top Japanese executives.

The Renault-Nissan Alliance is a unique group of two global companies linked by cross-shareholding, with Renault holding 44.3% of Nissan shares, while Nissan holds 15% of Renault shares.

Under president Ghosn's "Nissan Revival Plan" (NRP), the company has rebounded in what many leading economists consider to be one of the most spectacular corporate turnarounds in history, catapulting Nissan to record profits and a dramatic revitalization of both its Nissan and Infiniti model line-ups. Despite the turnaround, Infiniti sales have been a disappointment. In 2001, the company initiated Nissan 180, capitalizing on the success of the NRP. The targets set with 180 were an additional sale of 1 million cars, achieving operating margins of 8%, and to have zero automotive debts. Ghosn has been recognized in Japan for the company's turnaround in the midst of an ailing Japanese economy. Ghosn and the Nissan turnaround were featured in Japanese manga and popular culture. His achievements in revitalizing Nissan were noted by Emperor Akihito, who awarded him the Japan Medal with Blue Ribbon in 2004.

In December 1999, legal action was instituted by Nissan Motors seeking $10,000,000 in damages from Uzi Nissan, founder and president of Nissan Computer Corp. The outcome of the case is still unresolved, although Nissan.com has not yet been turned over to Nissan Motors.

The first product of the Nissan-Renault alliance was the Nissan Primera, launched in 2001 and based on the Renault Laguna that had been launched in 2000. Subsequently, Nissan's Micra, Note and Versa models have shared the same mechanical design as the Renault Clio.

Recent news

The Nissan Note, Micra and Qashqai in the UK are all produced at their UK factory in Washington, Sunderland. Nissan also produces cars at its factory at Roslyn, near Pretoria, South Africa.

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

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.

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

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.

The company's head office is now in Tokyo but will move back to Yokohama in 2009. Nissan North America relocated its headquarters from Gardena, California to Nashville, Tennessee in July 2006. A new headquarters is being built in Franklin, Tennessee, due to be complete in the summer of 2008.

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.

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.

Leadership

Presidents and Chief Executive Officers of Nissan:

  • 1933-1939 Yoshisuke Aikawa
  • 1939-1942 Masasuke Murakami
  • 1942-1944 Genshichi Asahara
  • 1944-1945 Haruto Kudo
  • 1945 Takeshi Murayama
  • 1945-1947 Souji Yamamoto
  • 1947-1951 Taichi Minoura
  • 1951-1957 Genshichi Asahara
  • 1957-1973 Katsuji Kawamata
  • 1973-1977 Tadahiro Iwakoshi
  • 1977-1985 Takashi Ishihara
  • 1985-1992 Yutaka Kume
  • 1992-1996 Yoshifume Tsuji
  • 1996-2000 Yoshikazu Hanawa
  • 2000-present Carlos Ghosn

Products

Automotive products

Infiniti G35
Main articles: List of Nissan vehicles and List of Nissan engines.

Nissan has produced an extensive range of mainstream cars and trucks, initially for domestic consumption but exported around the world since the 1950s. There was a major strike in 1953.

It also produced several memorable sports cars, including the Datsun Fairlady 1500, 1600 and 2000 Roadsters, the Z-car, an affordable sports car originally introduced in 1969; and the Skyline GT-R, a powerful all-wheel-drive sports coupe.

In 1985, Nissan created a tuning division, NISMO, for competition and performance development of such cars.Nismo's latest model is the 350Z LM.

The recently launched mid-sized Nissan Navara truck has Template:Convert/bhp.

Until 1982, Nissan automobiles in most export markets were sold under the Datsun brand. Since 1989, Nissan has sold its luxury models in North America under the Infiniti brand.

Nissan also sells a small range of keicars, mainly as a joint venture with other Japanese manufacturers like Suzuki or Mitsubishi. Nissan does not develop these cars. Nissan also has shared model development of Japan domestic cars with other manufacturers, particularly Mazda, Subaru, Suzuki and Isuzu.

In China, Nissan produces cars in association with the Dongfeng Motor Group including the 2006 Nissan Livina Geniss. This is the first in the range of a new worldwide family of medium sized cars and is to make its world debut at the Guangzhou International Motor Show.

Nissan launches Qashqai SUV in South Africa, along with their new motorsport Qashqai Car Games.

Alternative propulsion

Carlos Ghosn, chief executive of Nissan Motor, which is 44% owned by Renault, plans to start selling electric cars in 2012 as the company anticipates demand from city drivers. It would be good date for both for Renault and Nissan to introduce mass-market electric cars, Ghosn told a group of journalists at the Tokyo Motor Show on Wednesday October 24, 2007.[12][13]

Renault-Nissan Motors is in the Advisory Council of the PHEV Research Center.

Nissan Motor and Robert Bosch GmbH are in talks to form a comprehensive alliance in hybrid systems and parts.[14]

When Nissan launches its new line of electrical vehicles in America in 2010, it will initially target fleet buyers, which can provide their own charging stations. "It will be a real business," says Tom Lane, Nissan's global product-planning chief, "not just a way to sell 200 cars in California." He expects sales to retail buyers to begin in 2012, at a price of around $25,000. [15]

Nissan is also hedging its bets by developing both a "parallel hybrid" system (akin to that found in the Toyota Prius) and a plug-in "series hybrid" similar to the Chevy Volt. But it favours the all-electric approach, even though it will be a tough sell, says Mr Lane. As for Mr Ghosn, he has no doubts. "We must have zero-emission vehicles," he says. "Nothing else will prevent the world from exploding." [16]

Non-automotive products

Nissan has also had a number of ventures outside the automotive industry, most notably the Tu-Ka mobile phone service (est. 1994), which was sold to DDI and Japan Telecom (both now merged into KDDI Corporation) in 1999. Nissan also owns Nissan Marine, a joint venture with Tohatsu Corp that produces motors for boats and other maritime equipment.

Manufacturing locations

  • Flag of Japan Japan
    • Oppama, Yokosuka, Kanagawa (Oppama Plant & Research Center)
    • Kaminokawa, Tochigi (Tochigi Plant)
    • Kanda, Fukuoka (Kyushu Plant)
    • Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa (Yokohama Plant)
    • Iwaki, Fukushima (Iwaki Plant)
    • Hiratsuka, Kanagawa (Nissan Shatai Shonan Plant)
    • Nagoya, Aichi (Aichi Machine Industry Atsuta & Eitoku Plants)
    • Matsusaka, Mie (Aichi Machine Industry Matsusaka Plant)
    • Tsu, Mie (Aichi Machine Industry Tsu Plant)
    • Uji, Kyoto (Auto Works Kyoto)
    • Ageo, Saitama (Nissan Diesel Motor, currently owned by the Volvo Group)
    • Samukawa, Kanagawa (Nissan Kohki)
    • Zama, Kanagawa (Zama Plant closed in 1995, currently Global Production Engineering Center)
  • Flag of Brazil Brazil
    • São José dos Pinhais
  • Flag of Indonesia Indonesia
    • Cikampek, West Java
  • Flag of Malaysia Malaysia
    • Segambut, Kuala Lumpur
    • Serendah, Selangor
  • Flag of Mexico Mexico
    • Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes
    • Cuernavaca, CIVAC
  • Flag of Philippines Philippines
    • Santa Rosa City, Laguna
  • Flag of South Africa South Africa
    • Rosslyn
  • Flag of Spain Spain
    • Barcelona
    • Ávila
  • Flag of Thailand Thailand
    • Bangna, Samutprakan
  • Flag of Republic of China Taiwan
    • Taipei
  • Flag of United Kingdom United Kingdom
    • Sunderland, North East
  • Flag of United States United States
    • Smyrna, Tennessee
    • Canton, Mississippi
    • Decherd, Tennessee

See also

Portal Nissan Motors Portal
  • Nissan Diesel
  • Nissan Group
  • Datsun
  • Renault
  • Jatco
  • Dongfeng Motor Company
  • Dongfeng Nissan-Diesel Company
  • List of Nissan vehicles
  • List of Nissan engines
  • Laurence Hartnett
  • Project Better Place
  • NEC
  • Nissan Engine Museum
  • Yokohama F. Marinos

Notes and references

  1. ↑ Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Company Profile - Yahoo! Finance
  2. ↑ Cusumano page 33
  3. ↑ Cusumano pp 28
  4. ↑ Cusumano pp 28, 30, 33
  5. ↑ Cusumano pp 28, 30
  6. ↑ Cusumano pp 30.
  7. ↑ Cusumano, page 37
  8. ↑ "Awful" (1935-01-21)- Retrieved 2007-06-11
  9. ↑ Cususmano
  10. ↑ Cusumano, pp 90-92
  11. ↑ Nissan Global.
  12. ↑ Amir Ben-Artzi (2007-05-22). Israel, Jordan in electric car talks with Renault, Toyota, say reports. EE Times Europe.
  13. ↑ Renault to Develop Electric Cars for Israel. Planet Ark (2008-01-22).
  14. ↑ Nissan, Bosch in Talks on Hybrid Systems. Green Car Congress (2007-11-14).
  15. ↑ http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=101846&topicId=103840033&docId=l:788745319
  16. ↑ http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=101846&topicId=103840033&docId=l:788745319
  • Cusumano, Michael A. (1985). The Japanese Automobile Industry. Harvard University Press. ISBN 0-674-47255-1. 

External links

Commons
Wikimedia Commons has media related to::
Part of the Nissan series
Vehicles
Production DC-3 • 100NX • 1200 • 210 • 310 • 180SX • 200SX • B10 • B110 • B-210 • 240SX • 240Z • 280ZX • 300ZX • 350Z • 510 • 720 • Almera • Almera Tino • Altima • Armada • Avenir • Be-1 • Bluebird • Caravan • Cedric • Cefiro • Cherry • Cima • Crew • Cube • Elgrand • Fairlady • Figaro • Frontier • Fuga • Gazelle • Gloria • GT-R • Hardbody Truck • Hypermini • Laurel • Leopard • Lafesta • Liberty • Livina Geniss • Maxima • March • Multi • Murano • Navara • Note • NX • Paladin • Pao • Pathfinder • Patrol • Pintara • Platina • Prairie • Presage • Presea • Primera • President • Pulsar • Pulsar GTI-R • Qashqai • Quest • R390 GT1 • R'nessa • Rasheen • Roadster-Road Star • Rogue • S-Cargo • Saurus Jr • Sentra • Serena • Silvia • Skyline • Skyline GT-R • Stanza • Stagea • Sunny • Teana • Tiida • Titan • Urvan • Versa • Wingroad • X-Trail • Xterra
Concept 126-X • 216-X • AA-X • Actic • AD-2 • AL-X • Alpha Truck • Amenio • AP-X • ARC-X • AXY • AZEAL • Bevel • Boga • C-Note • Chapeau • Chappo • Cocoon • CQ-X • Crossbow • CUE-X • Cypact • Duad • Dunehawk • Effis • ESV • Evalia • FEV • Foria • Forum • Fusion • GT-R • ideo • Jikoo • Judo • Jura • kino • KYXX • MID4 • Mixim • mm.e • Moco • Nails • NEO-X • NRV-II • NX21 • Pivo • Redigo • Serenity • Sport Concept • Terranaut • Tone • Trailrunner • TRI-X • URGE • UV-X • Yanya • Zaroot
Engines
Straight-4 A • C • D • E • G • H • J • L • Z • CA • CG • CR • FJ • GA • HR • KA • MA • MR • NA • QG • QR • SD • SR • TD • YD • ZD
Straight-6 H •L • P • S20 • RB • RD • SD • TB • TD
V6 VE • VG • VQ • VR
V8 VH • VK • Y
Tuners
Autech • Nismo •
See also
Infiniti division
Flag of Japan TOPIX 100 companies of Japan
Core 30
7&i ·Astellas ·Canon ·Fujifilm ·Hitachi ·Honda ·JFE ·JR East ·JT ·KDDI ·Komatsu ·Matsushita Electric ·Millea ·Mitsubishi Corporation ·Mitsubishi Estate ·Mitsui & Co. ·Mizuho ·MUFG ·Nintendo ·Nippon Steel ·Nissan ·Nomura ·NTT ·NTT DoCoMo ·Shin-Etsu Chemical ·Sony ·Sumitomo Mitsui Financial ·Takeda ·TEPCO ·Toyota
Large 70
ÆON ·AGC ·Asahi Kasei ·Bank of Yokohama ·Bridgestone ·Chubu Electric Power ·Chuo Mitsui Trust ·Daiichi Sankyo ·Daikin ·Daiwa House ·Daiwa Securities ·Denso ·DNP ·Eisai ·Fanuc ·Fujitsu ·Hoya ·INPEX ·Itochu ·JR Central ·JR West ·Kao ·KEPCO ·Keyence ·Kirin ·Kobelco ·Kubota ·Kyocera ·Marubeni ·Mitsubishi Chemical ·Mitsubishi Electric ·Mitsubishi Heavy Industries ·Mitsui Fudosan ·Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance ·MOL ·Murata ·NEC ·Nidec ·Nikko Cordial ·Nikon ·Nippon Oil ·Nitto Denko ·NTT Data ·ORIX ·Resona ·Ricoh ·Rohm ·Secom ·Sekisui House ·Sharp ·SMC ·SoftBank ·Sompo Japan ·Sumitomo Chemical ·Sumitomo Corporation ·Sumitomo Electric ·Sumitomo Metals ·Sumitomo Realty ·Sumitomo Trust ·Suzuki ·T&D ·TDK ·Tokyo Electron ·Tokyo Gas ·Toppan ·Toray ·Toshiba ·Yahoo! Japan ·Yamada Denki ·Yamato Transport
Flag of Japan Japanese automotive industry
Acura · Aisin Seiki Co. · Daihatsu Motor · Denso · HKS · Hino Motors · Honda Motor · Infiniti · Isuzu Motors · Kawasaki · Komatsu Limited · Kubota · Lexus · Mitsuoka · Mazda Motor · Mitsubishi Motors · Mitsubishi Fuso · Nissan Motor · Scion · Spoon Sports · Subaru · Suzuki Motors · Sumitomo Heavy · Toyota Motor · UD · Yamaha · GS Yuasa · list2 = Former: Otomo · Prince Motor Company Misc: Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association
Nissan sportscar racers (1966 - 1999)
Group 7 (1966 - 1970)

R380 · R381 · R382 · R383

WSC / JSPC (1985 - 1992)

83G · R85V · R86V · R87E · R88V/C · R89C · R90CK/CP · P35/NP35

IMSA GTP (1985 - 1993)

GTP ZX-Turbo · NPT-90

Le Mans (1997 - 1999)

R390 GT1 · R391

Nissan & UD Commercial Vehicles
Domestic Japan
Atlas  • Condor  • Big Thumb  • Quon  • Civilian  • Space Runner 7  • Space Arrow  • Space Wing  • Space Dream  • Space Runner RA  • Space Runner JP  • Space Runner RP  • Space Runner RM  • UA  • RN
International
Atlas  • Condor  • Big Thumb  • Quon  • Civilian  • JP  • RM  • RP  • UA  • Bus Chassis
Nissan car timeline, European market, 1980s–present
Type 1980s 1990s 2000s
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Supermini Micra K10 Micra K11 Micra K12
Small family car Sunny B310 Sunny B11 Sunny N13 Sunny N14 Almera N15 Almera N16 Tiida C11
Cherry N10 Cherry N12
Large family car Bluebird 910 Bluebird U11 Bluebird T12/T72 Primera P10 Primera P11 Primera P12
Stanza T11
Executive car Laurel C31 Laurel C32 Maxima J30 Maxima QX A32 Maxima QX A33
Coupé 200SX S110 200SX S12 200SX S13 200SX S14 200SX S15
Sports car 280ZX 300ZX Z31 300ZX Z32 350Z Z33
Mini MPV Note
Compact MPV Prairie M10 Prairie M11 Almera Tino
Large MPV Serena
Compact SUV Qashqai
X-Trail
Crossover SUV Murano
Off-roader Patrol 160 Patrol Y60 Patrol Y61
Terrano II
Pathfinder

[[Category:Nissan| ]


Credits

New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:

The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:

Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.

Retrieved from https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php?title=Nissan_Motors&oldid=707532

Content is available under Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License; additional terms may apply. See Terms of Use for details.
Copyright Logo
Powered by MediaWiki