Nissan

Nissan Skyline, 1960

© photo courtesy of: Nissan

During World War II, Nissan’s factories were dedicated to the production of engines, trucks and aircraft for the Japanese army, which was a major factor to become one of Japan’s most powerful companies.

Nissan merged with another Japanese automobile producer, Prince Motor CompanyPrinceJapan, 1952 > 19663 models
, in 1966 and eventually the Prince tradename was permanently dropped. Nevertheless, such unification brought Nissan car range to a more upmarket level.

In the 1970’s, Nissan became the second largest Japanese producer of vehicles (after ToyotaToyotaJapan, 1937 > present155 models
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), although nowadays it has been surpassed by HondaHondaJapan, 1948 > present102 models
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. In 1989, Nissan launched a subsidiary luxury car brand – InfinitiInfinitiJapan, 1989 > present31 models
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– to be sold in the United States, although it has then expanded for several other markets in Asia, Middle East and South America.

Since 1991, the company uses only the “Nissan” brand name to badge its car line-up, dropping the “DatsunDatsunJapan, 1931 > 198636 models
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” tradename it had been using since its inception.

Nissan’s severe financial difficulties in the 1990’s resulted on a large investment from French carmaker RenaultRenaultFrance, 1898 > present189 models
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on the Japanese brand’s shares, which took place in 1999. Today, the deal between the two companies has Renault with 44.4% of Nissan, while the Japanese carmaker holds a non-voting 15% share of Renault.

Despite the financial troubles, Nissan has managed to turn things around and experienced one of the most acclaimed recovers in the history of corporate economy. Nissan’s fast growth has even resulted on some profit records.