Though the first Nissan – actually a Datsun – was produced in 1914, the name Nissan itself didn’t truly debut until 1933 when founder Yoshisuke Aikawa listed the Nihon Sangyo Company on the Tokyo Stock Exchange under the ticker name: NISSAN. In the 91 years since, the Nissan name has grown to be known in almost every corner of the Globe.1914-19591960-19691970-19791980-19891990-19992000-20092010-20202021-PresentNissan Founder Yoshisuke AikawaTHE STORY BEGINSOrigins of NissanThe global automotive manufacturer known today as Nissan first debuted in 1911 when the Kwaishinsha (Kaishinsha) Motor Car Works was founded in Tokyo. 3 years later its first DAT model — an acronym of the initial investors surnames — was produced. 1914-19591933 Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., is established in Japan.Datsun Type 15: First Mass-Produced Japanese Vehicle1937Japan’s first mass-produced vehicleThe Datsun Type 15 is the first mass-produced Japanese vehicle. Other Type 15 models include phaeton, mini pick up and delivery van.1957 Nissan Skyline1957The Nissan Skyline debutsA forerunner to the revolutionary GT-R®, the Skyline was introduced in 1957. The modern Nissan R35 GT-R was first made for sale in the U.S. in 2009.History of the GT-RFirst Datsun in US Market – Datsun 1200 Sedan1958Datsun comes to AmericaThe first Datsun introduced to the U.S. market in 1958 was the Datsun 1000, built on the same platform as the Datsun pickup truck. This was replaced in 1961 by the Datsun 1200 pictured here.Explore Today’s Nissan Altima®The First Datsun Compact Pickup Sold in US 19571959Building a solid reputationIn 1959 the compact pickup truck came to America. While the first Datsun models arrived in ’58, the next year a quarter-ton model with a 48-HP 1200 CC engine established itself on American shores.Explore Today’s Frontier®Datsun Fairlady parked on a beach with the sea in the background, and two women standing by the sea.NISSAN INNOVATION DEBUTS IN AMERICA IN 1959From Japan to AmericaNissan brought its first Datsun models (a 1000 cc car and truck) to the U.S. at the 1959 Los Angeles Auto Show. Over the years to keep up with growing global demand, Nissan started production in Mexico in 1966. Production in Australia and Taiwan followed, with the first American factory opening in Smyrna, Tennessee, in 1983.1960-1969Datsun performance shines1961 Datsun Fairlady 1200 Roadster1961Fairlady 1200 RoadsterThe first Datsun sports car imported to the U.S. This convertible roadster was built with steel bodywork with a for the time zippy 48-hp and drum brakes. 288 units were produced through 1962.Explore Today’s Nissan Z®Datsun 320 Truck in 19651965Datsun 320 TruckA upgrade to previous Datsun trucks the 320 had a 60-hp engine and the first 4 speed floor shift. The pictured vehicle was found in the Arizona desert and restored by Classic Datsun of Vista, CA.Explore Today’s Nissan Frontier®1967 Datsun 2000 Roadster1967Exclusive performanceHighly desired by collectors, the 2000 Roadster,was the first Japanese production sports car to come with a 5-speed. That, plus its robust 150-hp engine, makes it extra fun to drive. Production was limited to 1,000 and the first 10 were light-weight versions for racing.Datsun 411 4 Door Sedan1967Nissan 411 4-Door SedanDesigned by Italian design house Pininfarina and featuring a luxurious interior. An upmarket car in Japan, sales were slowed by a higher MSRP. This was the first Datsun vehicle in the American market to feature a fully 3-speed automatic transmission.Explore Today’s Nissan Altima®1967 Nissan Patrol1967Nissan PatrolNissan’s first SUV in the U.S. followed Land Rover’s trail and offered more power for less, but just as tough. The Patrol was the only vehicle sold and marketed in the U.S. as a Nissan prior to 1983.Explore Today’s Nissan Armada®1967 American Inspired1968American inspiredNissan launches the first car styled for the U.S. market, the Datsun 510 sedan, in 2-door, 4-door and a 5-door wagon.Explore Today’s Nissan Sentra®1969 Datsun 1600 Roadster1969Datsun® 1600 RoadsterThe Datsun 1600 Roadster debuted in 1964-1965 as the Datsun Fairlady 1500 and shared many mechanical features with the Datsun Bluebird. Eventually, the model evolved into the Fairlady 1600 Roadster.The 70s were a great decade for Nissan. Nissan sold the one-millionth Datsun and became the top vehicle importer in the United States by 1975.First image: A red 1970s Nissan vehicle speeding. Second image: The interior of a 1970s Nissan.NISSAN DESIGN COMES TO AMERICADriving innovationIn 1971, annual sales eclipsed 250,000 in the United States for the first time. Nissan also established itself on the track, as the now-legendary Datsun 510 and 240Z dominated racing on two continents.. In 1973, the 1-Millionth Vehicle is sold in America. In 1979, Nissan Design America (NDA) was established in La Jolla, California, with a mandate to bring American style and concepts to Nissan vehicles. Over the years, NDA has brought us the original Altima®, the original Pathfinder®, the modular Pulsar NX, Xterra® 1970-1979Pushing the limits. Building a solid reputation1971 Datsun 1200 Coupe1971Datsun CoupeThe Datsun Coupe featured seating for five and “fold-down” rear seats. Available in the U.S. from 1970-73, selling 89,541 units making it the best-selling car of the time. Datsun 1200 Coupes won three SCCA C-Sedan National Championships.Explore Today’s Nissan Versa®1971 Datsun 510 Bre #461971Racing Datsun 510, #46Peter Brock and Brock Racing Enterprises (BRE) built and raced the number 46 Datsun 510, which won the 1971 and 1972 SCCA Trans-Am championships driven by John Morton. Its success helped to bring brand recognition to a newcomer in the emerging Japanese market.Explore Today’s Nissan Sentra®1967 Datsun 240Z1971Datsun 240Z debut240Z was introduced as a new sports car at the New York Auto Show in 1969. It featured a fastback styled body based on European design and boasted standard equipment like a strong inline 2.4 liter 6-cylinder engine, full instrumentation reclining bucket seats at an affordable price.Explore Today’s Nissan Z®1967 Datsun 510 the First 4 Door Sports Sedan1972Datsun 510® sedanThe 510® was a novel concept at the time: a good-looking, economical, fuel-efficient, five-passenger car that was fun to drive. It was was available in a 4-door sedan or 2-door coupe with independent rear suspension, or a 5-door wagon. Over its lifetime, the 510 went on to sell more than 300,000 units.Explore today’s Nissan Altima®1977 Nissan Datsun King Cab1977Datsun King CabBuilding a solid reputation for durable and fun-to-drive small trucks, Datsun introduces the King Cab, the first extended cab pickup, in 1977.Explore today’s Nissan Frontier®1978 Datsun B210GX1978Datsun B210gxThe B210 was renowned as Nissan’s best-selling small sedan of the 1970s. The 1978 model was rated at 48 mpg highway, and the “B210 Plus” edition boasted 50 mpg highway – a lofty achievement for a carbureted vehicle.Explore today’s Nissan Versa®Datsun 280ZX parked in front of a building, showcasing the car’s design and surroundings.FROM TRUCKS TO THE RACETRACKSBuilding off of successNissan built upon its successes of the 1970s – both in the showrooms and on the racetrack. Nissan Motor Manufacturing Corporation (NMMC) was established in Smyrna, Tennessee, to fulfill the growing demand for Nissan vehicles. In 1989, Nissan produced the 1-millionth vehicle on American soil. On the track, Hollywood legend Paul Newman captured Nissan’s 50th national SCCA championship following consecutive wins in 1985 and 1986 with the Newman/Sharp Trans-Am 300ZX®. 1980-1989Finding our stride, building on racing legends.1981 First-generation Nissan Maxima1981Four-Door Sports Car is bornThe first-generation Nissan Maxima was introduced as the successor to the Datsun 810 sedan. Equipped with an inline-6 engine from the 240Z, this was no ordinary sedan and the Maxima cemented its four-door sports car status for decades to come.Explore today’s Nissan Maxima®1982 Nissan Off-Road Racing Champion King Cab Desert Racer1982Championship off-road racing trucksBetween 1982 and 1992, Datsun collected an impressive 19 off-roading championship trophies. Our most radical off-roader — a sandblasting 380-hp King Cab desert racer — competed in the HRDA/SCORE Class 1 Unlimited Vehicle series.Explore today’s Nissan Frontier®1983 First Nissan Truck Built in America1983First American-built Nissan truckThe marketing of vehicles using Nissan badging in the U.S. begins with the production of the 1984 Nissan pickup on June 16, 1983, at the new assembly plant in Smyrna, Tennessee. Early models carried dual Datsun-Nissan branding to help consumers make the change.Explore Today’s Nissan Frontier®1985 First Sentra Built in America1985First Sentra® built in americaThe first-generation Nissan Sentra was introduced in 1982 as a replacement for the popular and economical B210. It was so popular in the U.S. that, in 1985, Sentra became the second Nissan model to roll off the line in the U.S in Smyrna, Tennessee.Explore Today’s Nissan Sentra®1988 Nissan Racing Record with Geoff Brabham’s IMSA GTP1988The stellar Nissan racing recordNissan racing driver Geoff Brabham wins his first of four consecutive IMSA Camel GT Driver’s Championships. Brabham’s IMSA GTP ZX-T car was practically unbeatable that year, clocking a breathtaking top speed of 200+ miles per hour on several tracks and winning eight consecutive races.Explore today’s Nissan Z®First image: A Nissan Pathfinder from the 1990s. Second image: Interior view of a Nissan vehicle.LEAPING INTO GREEN TECHRetaining the best of NissanIn 1991, Nissan receives its first environmental award from the EPA, and takes a big leap forward in green technology by lending its Alternative Fuel Vehicle to a California testing program and introducing the Future Electric Vehicle concept car. In 1997, Nissan is named “Best of the Best” by the Environmental Protection Agency. An additional accomplishment, in 1992 marked the sale of the 2-millionth Nissan Sentra in the United States.1990-1999A decade of agility and innovation.1993 First Nissan Altima Built in America1993First Altima assembled in America [*]The Nissan Altima was introduced to replace the discontinued Stanza line. U.S. assembled in Smyrna, Tennessee, it made an immediate impact in the mid-size sedan segment which continues today with its sixth-generation. [*]Explore Today’s Nissan Altima®The 1995 Nissan Sentra1995Compact without compromise1995 was the year Nissan introduced the world to the all-new 200SX® coupe and the all-new 4th-generation Sentra.Explore Today’s Nissan Sentra®1999 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab1999The first four door compact truckIn 1999, Nissan introduced the Frontier® Crew Cab, the first compact truck with four full-sized doors. That same year, Frontier, Xterra® and Pathfinder® were named the official vehicles of the Los Angeles County lifeguards, which made many appearances in the T.V. show “Baywatch.”Explore Today’s Nissan Frontier®Rear view of a Nissan GT-R built in the 2000s, highlighting the car’s designGROWING LINE-UP21st-Century thrillsNissan has nearly doubled the number of models offered and nearly doubled its sales. In 10 years, the diverse lineup has grown to include the first full-size Nissan truck, along with all-new hybrid technology and a 21st-century supercar. And this is only the beginning of what’s to come.2000-2009A new century of excitement.2003 Yellow Nissan 350Z2003Z ResurrectedThe Nissan 350Z, a two-door, two-seater sports car, kicked off production in 2002 and ended the 6-year production hiatus in the US. Its sleek redesign of the 240Z DNA, rejuvenated the Nissan market presence throughout the decade.Explore Today’s Nissan Z®2005 Midsize Frontier2005Off-road innovationAn all-new midsize Frontier® was launched with the most powerful V6 in its class. Nissan also introduced a mid-sized Pathfinder® with an added 3rd-row of seating, and the 2nd-generation Xterra® made its debut.Explore Today’s Nissan Frontier®2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid2007Nissan’s first hybridIn 2007, Nissan offered a hybrid driving option for the first time ever with the introduction of the all-new Altima® Hybrid.Explore the Altima Archives2009 Nissan GT-R2009The legend landsNissan brought its legendary GT-R to the U.S as an affordable supercar. With amazing acceleration, all-wheel drive, aggressive handling and bold styling, it has become an icon in the U.S. sports car market.Explore Today’s Nissan GT-R®2009 Nissan Cube2009The shape of thingsThe boxy yet stylish Nissan Cube® makes its North American debut with its non-traditional, asymmetrical body.First image: A Blue Nissan LEAF in charging Station. Second image: Interior view of a Nissan vehicle.TRADITION OF INNOVATIONThe first Nissan EVNissan helped to lead the automotive industry into the age of electric vehicles when it debuted the all-electric Nissan LEAF® and throughout the decade continued its tradition of innovation that excites with all new vehicles like the Nissan Kicks and safety technology like its available Safety Shield® 360 suite of features. Explore Safety Shield 360 [*]2010-2020The dawn of Nissan electrificationBlue Nissan LEAF2010Nissan LEAF®In 2010, Nissan introduced Nissan LEAF®—the world’s first mass-produced, 100% electric, zero tailpipe emission automobile. The standard 24-kWh battery was replaced with a 30-kWh battery for 2016, featuring an EPA estimated 107 miles of range. The 2018 LEAF introduced an all-new design and a 40-kWh battery that took range up to an EPA-estimated 151 miles, and in 2019, LEAF PLUS added an available 60-kWh battery, estimated by EPA to offer up to 226 miles of range. [*]Explore Today’s Nissan LEAF®2018 Orange Nissan Kicks2018Nissan Kicks: The crossover of self expressionNissan Kicks offers a bundle of technology and functionality at an attractive MSRP. It’s a one-of-a-kind crossover that’s big on attitude and self-expression. It demands attention with dynamic styling, nimble performance and an optional Safety Shield 360 for a suite of safety tech.Explore Today’s Nissan Kicks®2019 Red Nissan Altima2019Nissan Altima: All-Wheel Drive sedanContinuing the Altima tradition of innvovation in the sedan market, the Nissan Altima with an available Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system was made available for the first time. And it’s still available today. [*]Explore Today’s Nissan Altima®Nissan Thrill Line-up2021-PresentThe new era of innovation, excitement and thrill.Nissan storied history has spanned more than 90 years but it is just getting started. From electrification, to buying a Nissan@Home to the latest generation of Nissan capability in trucks, SUVs and sports cars, the latest chapter is unfolding now. [*]2023 Nissan ARIYA driving outdoor2023Nissan ARIYANissan packs more than a decade of expertise in electric vehicle technology into the 2023 Nissan ARIYA, an all-electric crossover that features available e-4ORCE all-wheel drive and will drive Nissan and us towards an electric future. [*]Explore ARIYANISSAN TOMORROWA look aheadSince the beginning, Nissan’s history is one of innovation without reservation and a willingness to do what others don’t dare to do. Nissan has an impressive track record of innovations, one that has greatly impacted the auto industry and the lives of drivers worldwide. [*]Future & Concept VehiclesNissan concept and future vehicles displaying innovative designsAdditional ResourcesBlue Nissan GT-R R34 parked, showcasing the iconic design and color of the vehicle.Evolution of GT-RThe history of the GT-R starts with its predecessor, the Nissan Skyline. This marked the first transition for Nissan from sedan to race car. Over 50 years later after the introduction of the Skyline, the GT-R made its way to America where it out competed with American muscle cars and European supercars. Making it legendary overnight.Learn moreDatsun 280ZX driving outdoors, capturing the motion and classic design of the vehicle.The history of Z-carsThe Nissan Z-car is known for their distinct styling and reputation for power and performance at a competitive price. The history of the Z-Car has taken an exhilarating road from the Datsun 240Z and Fairlady Z from Japan in 1969, through the 80s with the 300ZX, 2000s with the 350Z, 2010s with the 370Z, and into tomorrow with the current Nissan Z.Learn moreNissan USA About Nissan HeritageLive ChatEnglishABOUTSHOPOWNERSOFFERS & FINANCINGSocialtiktokinstagramyoutubetwitterfacebookpinterestSITE MAPCONTACT USDO NOT SELL OR SHARE MY PERSONAL INFORMATIONTERMS OF USEPRIVACY NOTICERECALL INFORMATION© Nissan USA 2025Back to top
