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Nissan traces its roots to the Kwaishinsha Motor Car Works founded in 1911 by Masujiro Hashimoto, which built the first Japanese automobile, the DAT. In 1933 the company was reorganized as Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. During the postwar period, Nissan partnered with Austin Motor Company of Britain to license-build the Austin A40 and A50, gaining modern manufacturing expertise.
The Datsun brand became Nissan's export face, and the 240Z sports car of 1969 made Datsun a household name in America. By the 1980s Nissan was competing directly with Toyota and Honda globally. Financial struggles in the 1990s led to a 1999 alliance with Renault under Carlos Ghosn, who orchestrated one of the most famous automotive turnarounds.
The Nissan GT-R, launched in 2007, redefined performance benchmarks at its price point. Nissan was also an early leader in mass-market electric vehicles with the 2010 Leaf. [Uncertain: the claim that the DAT was the first Japanese automobile depends on definitions; some sources credit earlier vehicles like the 1907 Takuri.]
Nissan introduced the world's first mass-produced electric car for the modern era, the Leaf, in 2010, which has sold over 650,000 units globally. The GT-R's VR38DETT engine, hand-assembled by Takumi craftsmen in a clean room, and its advanced ATTESA E-TS all-wheel-drive system set new standards for performance technology at the car's price.
Nissan's e-POWER system is a series-hybrid architecture where the gasoline engine only charges the battery while the electric motor drives the wheels, offering an EV-like driving experience without range anxiety.
The ProPILOT semi-autonomous driving system debuted on the Serena minivan in Japan and has since been deployed globally across the lineup. Nissan also pioneered around-view monitor technology, using four cameras to provide a 360-degree overhead view for parking.
Nissan Motor Co. is established in Yokohama, Japan.
The Datsun 240Z sports car is launched, establishing Nissan as a global performance brand.
Nissan enters a strategic alliance with Renault, leading to one of the industry's most significant turnarounds.
The Nissan GT-R (R35) goes on sale, earning the nickname Godzilla for its performance and all-wheel-drive capability.
The Nissan Leaf is introduced as the world's first mass-market all-electric family car.
How the platform works for buyers and dealers