Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
Company History
Nissan History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 1933 in Yokohama, Japan
When was Nissan founded?
Nissan was founded in 1933 in Yokohama, Japan by Yoshisuke Aikawa, William Gorham, Masujiro Hashimoto and Rokuro Aoyama, making it 93 years old.
- Founded
- 1933
- Founding place
- Yokohama, Japan
- Founders
- Yoshisuke Aikawa, William Gorham, Masujiro Hashimoto and Rokuro Aoyama
- Headquarters today
- Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
- Milestones documented
- 13 (1914–2026)
- Current CEO
- Ivan Espinosa
- Acquisitions
- 3
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1914 | Creation of the DAT Car |
| 1933 | Founding of Jidosha Seizo in Yokohama |
| 1958 | Mobilgas Round Australia Trial Victory |
| 1966 | Merger with Prince Motor Company |
| 1969 | Launch of Datsun 240Z and Skyline GT-R |
| 1989 | Infiniti Luxury Division & R32 GT-R Debut |
| 1999 | Formation of Renault-Nissan Alliance |
| 2010 | Commercialization of 100% Electric Nissan Leaf |
| 2016 | Acquisition of 34% Controlling Stake in Mitsubishi Motors |
| 2020 | Unveiling of Nissan NEXT Turnaround Plan |
| 2024 | Historic EV Collaboration with Honda |
| 2025 | Honda Merger Talks End; Ivan Espinosa Becomes CEO |
| 2026 | Return to Quarterly Operating Profit |
- Where was Nissan founded?
- Nissan was founded in Yokohama, Japan in 1933. wikidata.org
- Who founded Nissan?
- Nissan was founded by Yoshisuke Aikawa, William Gorham, Masujiro Hashimoto and Rokuro Aoyama.
- When did Nissan start?
- Nissan was founded in 1933.
- How old is Nissan?
- Nissan is 93 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
In 1999 Nissan was close to bankruptcy and heavily in debt. It formed an alliance with the French automaker Renault, which sent Carlos Ghosn to run the company. Ghosn broke up long-standing supplier arrangements, closed factories and cut about 21,000 jobs. The company returned to profit quickly and Ghosn became a celebrated figure in Japan, before his later arrest and departure.
Founders
Yoshisuke Aikawa
Yoshisuke Aikawa founded the massive Nissan zaibatsu in the 1920s. Recognizing the absolute critical importance of the rapidly growing automotive industry, he consolidated several smaller motor companies (including DAT Motors) into Nissan Motor Co. in 1933, heavily leveraging American engineering talent and mass-production techniques to build Japan's first truly modern automotive factories. Yoshisuke Aikawa was born in 1880. Education: University of Tokyo. Aikawa, also known as Gisuke Ayukawa, was born on November 6, 1880 and died on February 13, 1967. He was also a politician and was founder and first president of the Nissan zaibatsu.
William Gorham
William Gorham was an American engineer who moved to Japan and played an absolutely vital role in the founding of Nissan. He brought crucial, highly advanced American mass-production machinery and technical expertise to Aikawa's factories, single-handedly advancing the Japanese automotive industry by decades prior to WWII. William Gorham was born in 1888 in San Francisco. Education: Heald College. William Reagan Gorham was born on January 4, 1888 and died on October 24, 1949. An American-born engineer, he emigrated to Japan and worked with several of the companies that Yoshisuke Aikawa later merged into Nissan.
Masujiro Hashimoto
Masujiro Hashimoto founded the Kwaishinsha Motor Car Works in 1911, which produced the 'DAT' car. This company was eventually absorbed by Aikawa's conglomerate to form the foundational core of what would become Nissan Motor Co., specifically providing the beloved 'Datsun' brand name. (Exact birth year remains publicly undisclosed).
Rokuro Aoyama
Rokuro Aoyama was one of the three primary financial backers (alongside Den and Takeuchi) of Hashimoto's original company, providing the 'A' in the 'DAT' acronym. His crucial early funding helped establish the very first domestic automotive manufacturing capabilities in Japan. (Exact birth year remains publicly undisclosed).
Key Milestones
Creation of the DAT Car
Masujiro Hashimoto creates the DAT passenger car at Kaishinsha in Tokyo, establishing the engineering roots of Datsun and Nissan.
Source: nissan-global.comFounding of Jidosha Seizo in Yokohama
Yoshisuke Aikawa establishes Jidosha Seizo Co., Ltd. in Yokohama, renamed Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. in 1934.
Source: nissan-global.comMobilgas Round Australia Trial Victory
Datsun 1000 captures class honors in the 10,000-mile endurance trial, launching Nissan's international export offensive.
Source: nissan-global.comMerger with Prince Motor Company
Nissan absorbs Prince Motor Company, acquiring top aeronautical engineering talent, royal coachbuilding prestige, and the well-known Skyline and Gloria nameplates.
Source: nissan-global.comLaunch of Datsun 240Z and Skyline GT-R
Nissan releases the affordable inline-six Datsun 240Z sports coupe in the US and the dual-overhead-cam Skyline 2000GT-R in Japan, shattering European performance hegemony.
Source: nissan-global.comInfiniti Luxury Division & R32 GT-R Debut
Nissan launches Infiniti in North America with the Q45 flagship sedan and revives the R32 Skyline GT-R featuring ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive.
Source: nissan-global.comFormation of Renault-Nissan Alliance
Facing $20B in corporate debt, Nissan forms an equity alliance with Renault S.A.; Carlos Ghosn launches the Nissan Revival Plan to rescue the company.
Source: nissan-global.comCommercialization of 100% Electric Nissan Leaf
Nissan releases the Leaf, creating the modern mass-market electric vehicle segment and selling over 650,000 units globally.
Source: nissan-global.comAcquisition of 34% Controlling Stake in Mitsubishi Motors
Nissan invests $2.2 billion to purchase a controlling 34% stake in Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, creating the three-way Alliance.
Source: nissan-global.comUnveiling of Nissan NEXT Turnaround Plan
then-CEO Makoto Uchida unveils Nissan NEXT, rationalizing global capacity by 20% and focusing core investments on e-POWER and EVs.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgHistoric EV Collaboration with Honda
Nissan and Honda sign a strategic partnership to co-develop electric vehicle drive platforms, standardized core components, and automotive software OS.
Source: nissan-global.comHonda Merger Talks End; Ivan Espinosa Becomes CEO
Merger talks with Honda ended in February 2025. Ivan Espinosa succeeded Makoto Uchida as president and CEO on April 1, 2025, and in May launched the Re:Nissan plan targeting ~$3.35 billion (¥500 billion) in cost savings, about 20,000 job cuts and fewer plants.
Source: global.nissannews.comReturn to Quarterly Operating Profit
After a ~$3.57 billion (¥533.1 billion) net loss in FY2025, Nissan posted Q1 FY2026 operating profit of ~$522 million (¥77.9 billion) on revenue of ~$19.9 billion (¥2.964 trillion) and reaffirmed FY2026 guidance of ~$1.34 billion (¥200 billion) operating profit.
Source: usa.nissannews.comMajor Acquisitions
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (34% Controlling Stake)
2016Acquired a 34% controlling equity stake in Mitsubishi Motors following Mitsubishi's domestic fuel economy scandal, bringing Mitsubishi into the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance.
Prince Motor Company
1966Historic merger with Japanese luxury and sports car manufacturer Prince Motor Company.
Mitsubishi Motors
2016Acquired a controlling interest to integrate into the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance.
Keep researching Nissan
Nissan Company History FAQ
What are the historic milestones that define the 90+ year journey of Nissan Motor?
Key milestones include: founding of Jidosha Seizo / Nissan (1933-1934), Yokohama plant completion (1935), export of Datsun to US (1958), Prince Motor merger (1966), Datsun 240Z debut (1969), establishment of UK Sunderland plant (1986), launch of Infiniti (1989), Renault Alliance formation (1999), Nissan LEAF launch (2010), Mitsubishi Motors acquisition (2016), Ghosn ouster (2018), and 90th anniversary celebration (2023).
How did the 1969 Datsun 240Z transform global perception of Japanese sports cars?
Designed under the vision of Yutaka Katayama, the 1969 Datsun 240Z (Fairlady Z) combined notable European GT styling, an energetic 2.4-liter inline-six engine, and bulletproof reliability at half the price of European rivals (Porsche, Jaguar), becoming an instant global automotive icon.
What was the significance of the Nissan LEAF launch in December 2010?
In December 2010, Nissan launched the Nissan LEAF, the world's first mass-produced, affordable, 100% all-electric passenger car, winning European Car of the Year and World Car of the Year in 2011 and selling over 650,000 units globally to ignite the modern EV era.
How did Nissan's Sunderland plant in the UK become a manufacturing benchmark?
Opened in 1986 in Sunderland, North East England, Nissan's UK manufacturing plant became Europe's most productive automotive factory, producing millions of Qashqai, Juke, and LEAF models and anchoring the UK automotive supply chain.
How did Nissan celebrate its 90th corporate anniversary in December 2023?
In December 2023, Nissan marked 90 years since its 1933 founding, unveiling special 90th Anniversary vehicle editions in Japan, highlighting its heritage of innovation, and detailing its roadmap for solid-state batteries and autonomous ProPILOT mobility.
How did the Nissan GT-R ('Godzilla') earn its well-known motorsport reputation?
Introduced in 1989, the R32 Skyline GT-R featured the well-known twin-turbo RB26DETT engine and advanced ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive, going undefeated in 29 consecutive Japanese Touring Car Championship races and dominating the Australian Bathurst 1000, earning the nickname 'Godzilla'.
What is the historical significance of the 'Datsun' brand retirement in 1981-1986 and 2022?
In 1981, Nissan phased out the beloved 'Datsun' nameplate globally to unify all vehicles under the Nissan corporate brand (costing $500M); after briefly reviving Datsun in 2013 as an emerging-market budget brand, Nissan permanently retired Datsun in 2022 to focus on electrification.
What is Nissan's long-term vision 'Ambition 2030' for the next era of mobility?
Nissan Ambition 2030 is Nissan's long-term roadmap to become a truly sustainable company, aiming to launch 27 electrified models (including 19 pure EVs) by 2030, achieve carbon neutrality across the vehicle lifecycle by 2050, and pioneer zero-fatality intelligent driving.
When was Nissan founded and what does the name Nissan mean?
Nissan was officially established on December 26, 1933, by Yoshisuke Aikawa under the initial name Jidosha Seizo Co., Ltd. before renaming to Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. in 1934. The name 'Nissan' is an abbreviation of the parent holding company Nihon Sangyo (Japan Industries).
How did the Datsun brand originate within Nissan?
Datsun originated from the 1914 DAT car built by Masujiro Hashimoto's Kaishinsha works (named from the initials of backers Den, Aoyama, and Takeuchi). When a smaller car was designed in 1931, it was called 'Datson' ('Son of DAT'), later changed to 'Datsun' because 'sun' honored Japan's rising sun and avoided the negative Japanese connotation of 'son' (loss).
What was the significance of the 1966 Prince Motor Company merger?
The 1966 merger with Prince Motor Company integrated high-end aeronautical and automotive engineering into Nissan, bringing well-known vehicle lines into its portfolio including the Skyline and Gloria, which laid the foundation for the well-known Skyline GT-R.
When was the iconic Nissan Leaf launched and how did it pioneer the modern electric vehicle era?
Launched in December 2010, the Nissan Leaf was the world's first mass-market, mass-produced battery-electric passenger vehicle. Winning European Car of the Year and World Car of the Year in 2011, the Leaf surpassed 650,000 cumulative sales worldwide, establishing foundational lithium-ion manufacturing and consumer EV adoption years ahead of mainstream rivals.
What was the historic significance of the Datsun 240Z in international markets?
Introduced in late 1969 (1970 model year) in North America, the Datsun 240Z (Fairlady Z in Japan) revolutionized the global sports car segment by offering European Jaguar-level performance, sleek styling, and Japanese mechanical reliability at a fraction of the cost, cementing Nissan's commercial legitimacy in Western markets.
How did Nissan establish manufacturing in the United States and the United Kingdom?
To circumvent trade frictions and import quotas in the early 1980s, Nissan opened its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Smyrna, Tennessee, in 1983 (now one of North America's highest-volume vehicle plants) and its landmark plant in Sunderland, UK, in 1986, which grew to become the most productive car plant in the United Kingdom.
What led to Nissan's near-bankruptcy in 1999 prior to the Renault partnership?
By 1999, Nissan had accumulated over $20 billion in debt, suffered from fragmented vehicle platforms, uncoordinated regional engineering, and unprofitable keiretsu supplier dependencies. In March 1999, French automaker Renault stepped in, acquiring a 36.8% equity stake and installing Carlos Ghosn to execute the aggressive Nissan Revival Plan (NRP).
How did the Nissan Skyline GT-R become a legendary automotive icon?
Originating from the Prince Motor Company acquisition, the Skyline GT-R achieved legendary status with the 1989 R32 generation, featuring advanced ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive and the twin-turbo RB26DETT engine. Nicknamed "Godzilla" by Australian media after undefeated touring car dominance, it defined Nissan's performance engineering pedigree.
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