Nissan

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About Nissan

Nissan is the sixth largest automaker in the planet. It is a Japanese multinational company with headquarters in Yokohama, Japan. Founded in 1933, it sells cars under the brands Nissan, Datsun, Infiniti, and NISMO.

History

Nissan was founded in 1933 when DAT Motors based in Tokyo was merged with the Jitsuyo Jidosha Seizo Motors. It rolled out its first Datsun passenger car at its Yokohama plant in 1935, and the company soon exported vehicles to Australia. During those days, the Datsun cars was one of the symbols of Japan’s rise as an industrial and economic power.

Before the onset of World War II, Nissan started shifting its manufacturing focus from small cars to military trucks. During the war, the company also built engines for the Japanese army’s planes and torpedo boats. After the war, Nissan resumed its production of trucks and passenger cars.

In a bid to recover from the damages of the war, Nissan tied up with Austin Motors of the United Kingdom to roll out the first Austin cars in the early 50s. By the end of the decade, Nissan was participating in one of the toughest races in the world, the Australian Rally. In 1960, Nissan became the first Japanese automaker to receive the Deming Prize for engineering excellence.

In the 90s the company fell behind in sales to the two other Japanese automakers Toyota and Honda mainly due to an uninspiring line-up of vehicles. By the turn of the new millennium it hooked up with Renault SA of France, and it helped the company turn around its fortunes.

Models

Nissan currently has around 40 models in production. Its line-up of sedans includes the best-selling Nissan Altima, Nissan Maxima, Nissan Sentra, and Nissan Versa. It also has a formidable roster of SUVs such as Nissan Armada, Nissan JUKE, Nissan Murano, Nissan Rogue, Nissan Pathfinder, Nissan Rogue Select, and Nissan Xtera.

Nissan has been traditionally influential when it comes to sports cars, and the company has lived up to that tradition with its Nissan 370Z and Nissan GT-R.

Innovations

Nissan is perhaps best known for its powerful VQ engine that enhances the overall performance of its vehicles. The company’s VQ engine is considered by many motoring experts as among the best in the world. As mentioned earlier, Nissan is well-known for its sports cars and has built a reputation for producing lightning-quick machines. It is also well-known for its 100% electric-powered car, the Nissan Leaf.