5 Major Events in Nissan's History

Major Events in Nissan’s History

Event Event

1933 1966
December Jidosha Seizo Co., Ltd., predecessor of Nissan Motor Co., May Nissan Motor Co. (Australia) Pty. Ltd. is established.
Ltd., is established in Yokohama with paid-in capital of August Nissan merges with Prince Motors, Ltd. of Japan; the
¥10,000,000. Yoshisuke Aikawa is named the new Murayama Plant is acquired by Nissan.
company’s president. 1967
1934 July Construction of the Honmoku Wharf is completed.
May Construction of the Yokohama Plant is completed. 1968
Production of tools commences. January Headquarters operations are moved to the Company’s new
June The Company name is changed to Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. building in the Ginza area of Tokyo.
The first Datsuns are exported to Asia and Central and October A business cooperation agreement is concluded with Fuji
South America, with shipments totalling 44 units. Heavy Industries, Ltd.
1935 1969
April The first car manufactured by a fully integrated assembly November Cumulative exports surpass 1,000,000 units.
system rolls off the line at the Yokohama Plant.
May The corporate mark is chosen.
1970
February Lambda 4S-5 successfully launches Japan’s first satellite,
1940 OHSUMI. (Nissan developed and manufactured the rocket
March The first knockdown (KD) units are shipped to Dowa Jidosha engine and launch vehicle.)
Kogyo in Manchuria. March Nissan moves into the marine engine field.
1943 1971
August Construction of the Yoshiwara Plant is completed. March Construction of the Tochigi Plant is completed.
(Operations begin in October 1943.) (Partial operations begin in October 1968.)
December World War II progresses: production of cars and trucks is
completely stopped.
1972
September Cumulative domestic production surpasses 10 million units.
1944 1973
September The head office is moved to Nihonbashi, Tokyo, and the
October Construction of the Sagamihara Parts Center is completed.
Company name is changed to Nissan Heavy Industries, Ltd.
(Partial operations began in April 1972.)
1945 1974
November The first postwar-manufactured car rolls off the line.
April Nissan Science Foundation is established.
1946 1975
January Headquarters returns to Yokohama.
June Cumulative domestic sales surpass 10 million units.
August Research and development of textile machinery begins.
1949 1976
March Nissan Motor Manufacturing Co. (Australia) Ltd. is
August Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. is reestablished as the Company
established and full-scale operation begins.
name.
1950 1977
June Construction of the Kyushu Plant is completed.
May Nissan acquires an equity interest in Minsei Diesel Motor
(Partial operations begin in April 1975.)
Co., Ltd. (now called Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd.)
July Cumulative production surpasses 20 million units.
1952 1979
December Nissan enters into a technological cooperation agreement
April Nissan Design International, Inc. (NDI) is established in the
with Austin Motor Co., Ltd. of the United Kingdom.
United States.
1953 1980
April R&D on rocket motors commences.
January Nissan acquires an equity interest in Motor Ibérica, S.A. in
August The All Nissan Motors Workers' Union (a new labor union) is
Spain.
established.
January Cumulative exports surpass 10 million units.
1957 July Nissan Motor Manufacturing Corporation U.S.A. (NMMC) is
August Forklift production starts. established. (The first Datsun truck rolled off the line in June
1958 1983; the first Sentra (Sunny), in March 1985.)
June Export of passenger cars to the United States begins. 1981
September Datsuns are entered in the 6th Australia Mobilgas Trial, with June Construction of the Kambara Manufacturing Plant, the
one taking first place for the first time. satellite facility of the Yoshiwara Plant, is completed, and
1959 operations begin.
March Production commences at Yulon Motor Co., Ltd. in Taiwan, July Nissan begins worldwide marketing of vehicles under the
the Company’s first overseas KD factory. Nissan name as part of a new corporate identity program.
1960 August Cumulative production surpasses 30 million units.
March The technological cooperation agreement with Austin Motor September Nissan is tied up with Volkswagen AG of West Germany to
expires. produce and market passenger cars in Japan.
June Nissan wins the 10th Annual Deming Prize for excellence in November The Nissan Technical Center is completed.
industrial engineering. 1982
September Nissan Motor Corporation in U.S.A. is established. March Construction of the Kurihama Manufacturing Plant, the
1961 satellite facility of the Yokohama Plant, is completed.
September Nissan Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. is established. (Production (Production begins in May 1982.)
begins in July 1966.) April Construction of the head office annex is completed.
April Nissan wins the Safari Rally for the fourth consecutive year.
1962 June Nissan concludes a technical assistance agreement with
March Construction of the Oppama Plant is completed.
Martin Marietta, U.S.A., in the aerospace sector.
(Partial operations begin in October 1961.)
December The new corporate mark is announced.
1965
May Construction of the Zama Plant is completed.
(Partial operations begin in December 1964.)

30 Nissan Fact File 2001-2002

 Event Event

1983 June Nissan announces the reorganization of its parts supplier

January Nissan Motor Ibérica, S.A. begins production of the Patrol associations, and the Nissho Kai is newly established.
(Safari). August Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd. begins exporting its
July Nissan Research & Development, Inc. is established in the Primera 5-door Hatchback model to Japan.
United States. 1992
1984 January The Hokkaido Proving Grounds is established in Hokkaido
February In line with its agreement with Volkswagen AG, Nissan as a cold-weather testing facility.
begins production and sales of the Santana. April New production facility at the Kyushu Plant is completed,
April Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd. is established. and production begins.
(Production begins in July 1986.) June Nissan Motor Manufacturing Corporation U.S.A. begins
May Cumulative domestic sales surpass 20 million units. production of the Altima (Bluebird).
November Construction of the Oppama Wharf is completed. July Nissan commences U.S. sales of the multipurpose Quest
(The harbor had been opened in May 1983.) minivan, a joint project with Ford Motor Co.
1985 August Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd. begins production of
July Nissan acquires an equity interest in Yulon Motor Co., Ltd. in the Micra (March).
Taiwan. September Nissan Casting Australia Pty. Ltd. is established.
August Cumulative production surpasses 40 million units. October Cumulative domestic sales surpass 30 million units.
October Construction of Nissan Overseas Training Center (now October Vehicle production at Nissan Motor Manufacturing Co.
called Nissan Overseas Business College) is completed. (Australia) Ltd. ceases.
November Nissan Design Europe GmbH is established in Germany.
1986 November The Micra (March) wins the Car of the Year 1993 award in
January Construction of the Kawasaki Parts Distribution Center is Europe.
completed. (Operations begin in February 1986.) December The March wins the ’92-’93 Japanese Car of the Year award
December New corporate philosophy and corporate principles are and the RJC New Car of the Year 1992-1993 award in
announced. Japan.
1987 1993
January The Pulsar, EXA, Langley, and Liberta Villa win the February Nissan Motor Ibérica, S.A. begins production of a new 4WD
’86-’87 Japanese Car of the Year award. model, the Terrano II for the European market.
April Cumulative exports surpass 20 million units. March Nissan and the Zhengzhou Light Truck Factory form a joint
May Daewoo Motor Co., Ltd., begins production and marketing venture, Zhengzhou Nissan Automobile Co., Ltd., for the
of Vanette trucks in South Korea. production of commercial vehicles in China.
August The H-I rocket, featuring the fixed apogee motor designed September Nissan begins production and sales of the AD Resort
and produced by Nissan in Japan, successfully launches the wagons and pickups in Thailand and Taiwan, specifically for
engineering test satellite KIKU-5. Asian markets.
1988 September Nissan Mexicana, S.A.de C.V. begins exporting AD Vans to
April Nissan's ARC-X wins the "Car Design Award 1988, Torino- Japan.
Piemonte". October Nissan separates its Textile Machinery Division and
June Nissan European Technology Centre Ltd. is established in establishes Nissan Texsys Co., Ltd.
the United Kingdom. October Nissan Logistics Corporation is established in U.S.A.
August Nissan acquires equity in Barrett Industrial Truck Inc. of the 1994
United States, a manufacturer of forklifts, and decides to January Production begins at the Iwaki Plant.
locally manufacture forklifts. February Nissan starts mobile and car telephone communication service
October The Nissan Silvia Q's win "Good Design Grand Prize" for February The first H-II rocket, featuring solid-fuel rocket booster (SRB)
1988. and pyrotechnics designed and produced by Nissan in
1989 Japan, is successfully launched.
January The Silvia wins the ’88-’89 Japanese Car of the Year award. April Nissan Motor Ibérica, S.A. begins its shipment of the Mistral
April Nissan Europe N.V., the Company’s regional headquarters (TerranoII) to Japan.
for European operations, and Nissan Distribution Service April Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd. earns a Queen’s
(Europe) B.V., are established in the Netherlands. Award for Export Achievement for three consecutive years.
(Operations begin in April 1990.) April Nissan concludes a technical assistance and license
1990 agreement with South Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries
January Nissan North America, Inc., the Company’s regional Co., Ltd. on manufacturing passenger cars.
headquarters for North American operations, is established (Samsung Motors Inc. was established in March 1995.)
in the United States. (Operations begin in April 1990.) June Nissan Motor (China) Ltd. is established in Hong Kong to
January Cumulative production surpasses 50 million units. manage the distribution of vehicles and service parts to China.
February The 300ZX wins the 1990 Import Car of the Year award In June Nissan Middle East FZE is established in Dubai, UAE as the
the United States. Company’s regional business management company for the
May Cumulative production at the Zama Plant surpasses Middle East.
10millions units. December Cumulative domestic production surpasses 60 million units.
September Tokyo Design Network (TDN), a joint venture with Canon December Nissan concludes a technical transfer and license
Inc., Sony Corp., NEC Corp. and Hitachi, Ltd., is established. agreement with Nanjing Auto Works in China.
November Nissan acquires an equity interest in Siam Motors Co., Ltd., 1995
in Thailand. March Vehicle production at the Zama Plant ceases.
1991 May Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd. begins production
January In a joint venture with Hitachi, Ltd., Nissan establishes exports of the Micra (March) to Australia.
Xanavi Informatics Corporation for the rapidly growing field May Nissan, Indomobil and Marubeni form a joint venture, P.T.
of automobile information and communications systems and Ismac Nissan Manufacturing in Indonesia.
equipment. June Nissan formulates “Global Restructuring Policy” regarding
March A new distribution company, Nissan Motor (GB) Ltd., is promotion of globalization for production locations and
established in the United Kingdom. (Operations begin in expansion of imported parts, etc.
January 1992.)

Nissan Fact File 2001-2002 31

 Event Event

1996 September Nissan announces the creation of a world-wide corporate

January Cumulative production of VQ engines at the Iwaki Plant headquarters organization called Global Nissan (GNX).
surpasses 500,000 units. November Nissan 1.8 litter engine (QG18DE) of Bluebird Sylphy
October Cumulative overseas production surpasses 10 million units. receives RJC the Technology of the Year Award.
October Year-round recruitment of technical personnel commences. 2001
1997 March Vehicle production at the Murayama Plant ceases.
January Nissan Finance (GB) Ltd., a sales finance subsidiary, is April Nissan and Suzuki Motor Corporation reach the agreement
established in the United Kingdom. that Suzuki will supply mini-vehicles to Nissan on an OEM
April Nissan decides to abolish executive managing directors bases.
system, and to establish a management strategy meeting in April Nissan starts the construction of vehicle assembly plant in
which all directors will participate. Canton, Mississippi.
May Nissan Motor Manufacturing Corporation U.S.A. commences April Nissan launches driving tests of the Xterra FCV, a direct-
production at a new engine and transmission plant in Decherd. hydrogen-fueled fuel cell vehicle, on public roads this month,
May Nissan develops a "hybrid electric vehicle (HEV)" -electric based at a facility in Sacramento, CA in the US.
vehicle with the versatile convenience of a gasoline-engine June Nissan opens newly designed "Nissan Ginza Gallery" and
vehicle. "Nissan Head Office Gallery".
June Nissan European Technology center (Espanã), S.A. is December Nissan and Renault inaugurate the first new common plant in
established. Brazil.
September Nissan begins sales of the Primera and Bluebird with 2002
continuously variable transmission, Hyper CVT. January Nissan Altima wins '2002 North American Car of the Year
December Nissan introduces the Lepard with direct injection gasoline Award'.
engines. February Nissan announces NRP conclusion one year earlier than
1998 planned.
January The Nissan Driving Park is opened as a permanent driving February Renault raises its stake in Nissan to 44.4%.
safety training facility in the Murayama Plant complex. March Nissan owns 13.5% of Renault's share capital.
April The Aerospace Division’s Tomioka Plant is completed and April Nissan enters minicar market by Moco.
becomes operational in May. May The company announces new three-year business plan
May Nissan formulates a Global Business Reform Plan. NISSAN 180.
June A Nissan R390GT1 is placed third in the Le Mans 24-hour May Nissan increases its stake in Renault to 15%.
race.
June Nissan introduces the Presage with direct injection diesel
engines.
December Nissan Creates Internet Customer Inquiry and Reservation
System, "Clicar."
1999
March Nissan and Renault signs an agreement for a global alliance,
including equity participation.
March Nissan's 7 major domestic plants and Product Planning and
Research Development Group completed to obtain ISO
14001 environmental management system certification.
April Nissan transfers its Texsys’ Water Jet Textile Machinery
business to Toyota Automatic Loom Works.
April Nissan launches test-drive program for Tino Hybrid on public
roads.
May Nissan begins driving tests of a methanol fuel cell vehicle.
June Nissan sells Fuji Plant and A/T and CVT development
organization, establishes a wholly owned subsidiary,
TransTechnology Ltd.
July Cumulative exports surpass 30 million Units.
October Nissan begins sales of the Cedric/Gloria with new
generation automatic transmission "Extroid CVT".
October The company announces the Nissan Revival Plan.
November Cedric/Gloria wins “RJC New Car of the Year 1999-2000”;
“EXTROID CVT” receives “Technology of the Year 1999-2000.”
December Japan's largest auto mall, "Carest Zama" begins operations.
2000
February Nissan begins sales of the ultra-small EV Hypermini.
February Nissan begins sales of the super ultra low emission vehicle
(SULEV) Sentra CA in California.
March Nissan evacuates from mobile and car telephon
communication service
April Nissan begins sales of the Tino Hybrid throught internet.
April Nissan Motor Manufacturing Corporation U.S.A is merged
into Nissan North America, Inc.
April Nissan opens an exclusive berth for ocean-going vessels
beside Kyusyu Plant.
May Nissan starts to sell Renault vehicles through its domestic
dealers.
May Nissan announces its long-term strategy in the Mercosur
market (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) with
Renault support.

32 Nissan Fact File 2001-2002