Nissan
Founded in Yokohama in 1933, Nissan developed around a clear objective: making Japanese automobile production more industrial and accessible. The company first built many of its vehicles under the Datsun name before gradually adopting Nissan as its international identity. Its history includes popular sedans such as the Sunny and Bluebird, sports cars including the Fairlady Z and Skyline, as well as commercial vehicles and four-wheel-drive models. The 1966 integration of Prince Motors also strengthened Nissan’s heritage through vehicles such as the Skyline and Gloria. Since the Nissan LEAF went on sale in 2010, the company has combined that established history with a strategy focused on electrification. Nissan’s model range therefore reflects several decades of change in the Japanese automotive market, spanning mass production, performance cars, practical vehicles and emerging technologies.
Models from A to Z
100NX
180SX
200SX
240RS
240SX
300ZX
350Z
370Z
AD
Almera
Almera Tino
Altima
Aprio
Ariya
Armada
Atlas
Auster
Austin A40 Somerset
Avenir
Axxess
Bassara
Be-1
Bluebird
Bluebird Sylphy
C80
Cabstar
Cedric
Cefiro
Cherry
Cherry Vanette
Cima
Civilian
Clipper
Crew
Cube
Datsun
Datsun Vanette
DAYZ
DAYZ Roox
Diesel C-Series
Diesel Condor
Dualis
Elgrand
Evalia
EXA
Expert
Fairlady Z
Figaro
Frontier
Fuga
Gazelle
Gloria
GT-R
Homy
Hypermini
Interstar
Juke
Junior
Kait
Kicks
Kix
Kubistar
Lafesta
Langley
Lannia
Largo
Latio
Laurel
Laurel Altima
Laurel Spirit
Leaf
Leopard
Liberta Villa
Liberty
Livina
Lucino
Magnite
March
Maxima
Micra
Mistral
Moco
Murano
N6
N7
Navara
Note
NP300
NV
NV Passenger
NV100 Clipper
NV200
NV250
NX Coupé
NX8
Otti
Paladin
Pao
Paramedic
Pathfinder
Patrol
Pickup
Pino
Pixo
Platina
Prairie
Presage
Presea
President
Primera
Primera Camino
Pulsar
Qashqai
Quest
R'nessa
Rasheen
Rogue
Rogue Sport
Roox
S-Cargo
Safari
Sakura
Sentra
Serena
Silvia
Skyline
Skyline Crossover
Skystar
Stagea
Stanza
Sunny
Sunny California
Sunny Truck
Sunny Van
Sunny Vanette
Sylphy
Teana
Terra
Terrano
Terrano II
Tiida
Tino
Titan
Townstar
Trade
Tsuru
Vanette
Vanette Serena
Verita
Versa
Violet
Wingroad
X-Trail
Xterra
Z
Nissan overview
Nissan history
Nissan’s direct corporate history begins with the creation of Jidosha Seizo Co., Ltd. in Yokohama in December 1933. The company adopted the name Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. in 1934, and its Yokohama plant began integrated production in 1935. Nissan describes the facility as Japan’s first mass-production automobile plant, with the Datsun Model 14 among the vehicles produced there. Before Nissan became the dominant identity, Datsun was used for the company’s compact cars and evolved from the earlier DAT name. During the 1950s and 1960s, Nissan broadened its range with passenger cars, commercial vehicles and sports cars. The 1966 merger with Prince Motors was a significant step, adding engineering expertise and vehicles that influenced the later development of the Skyline. The Fairlady Z, introduced in 1969, then gave Nissan a strong international presence in relatively affordable sports cars. From the 1980s onward, Nissan expanded its manufacturing and sales activities in North America and other markets. The LEAF, launched in 2010, began another chapter as a mass-produced electric car. These confirmed milestones show a company that progressed from Datsun production to electrification while maintaining a broad portfolio rather than relying on one vehicle category.
Nissan positioning
Nissan has historically occupied the position of a Japanese mass-market manufacturer, offering vehicles that range from compact cars to sedans, crossovers, commercial vehicles, sports cars and four-wheel-drive models. The Sunny, Bluebird and March represent everyday mobility and high-volume production, while the Skyline, Fairlady Z and 240SX have shaped Nissan’s reputation among driving enthusiasts. This breadth is clearly documented in the company’s heritage material, although the commercial importance of individual models differed by market and period. More recently, Nissan has placed electrification at the center of its Ambition 2030 strategy, combining battery-electric vehicles with technologies such as e-POWER. It is therefore reasonable to characterize Nissan as a broad-based manufacturer that has retained a performance-oriented identity while extending its engineering focus toward electrified powertrains and intelligent mobility.
Recognizing a Nissan in a photo
Identifying an older Nissan requires checking the model name, original market and generation, because the same vehicle could carry Nissan or Datsun badges depending on its country and production year. The Fairlady Z, for example, was sold as the Datsun 240Z in North America, while early Skylines are connected to the Prince heritage. Identification plates, chassis numbers, headlamp and grille designs, and body style—sedan, coupe, wagon, commercial vehicle or pickup—are more dependable than a badge alone. On performance cars, names such as Z, GT-R, GTS or 240SX provide a useful starting point, but the generation code should confirm the identification. On newer vehicles, LEAF, ARIYA and e-POWER badges indicate different electrified layouts. These clues are practical rather than definitive: trim levels, lighting equipment and exterior details can change substantially between markets and model years.
Important Nissan models
The Sunny represents one of Nissan’s most accessible model lines. Introduced in Japan in 1966, it accompanied the spread of private car ownership and became an international family, including the Sentra name in some markets. The Bluebird holds an important place in Nissan’s sedan history, while the March—known as the Micra in several countries—shows the company’s long-standing presence in small cars. The Skyline is linked to the Prince heritage before becoming a Nissan model line, evolving from a sporty sedan into the high-performance GT-R. Introduced in 1969, the Fairlady Z forms Nissan’s best-known sports-car lineage. The 240SX, Pulsar, Laurel, Cedric, Gloria and Atlas broaden the picture through their representation of sporty coupes, compact cars, sedans, executive vehicles and commercial trucks. These models illustrate distinct parts of Nissan’s portfolio, although names, specifications and availability varied across markets and production years.
References
- Nissan’s BeginningsNissan Motor Corporation
- 1930s: Our Company HistoryNissan Motor Corporation
- Nissan Yokohama PlantNissan Motor Corporation
- 1960s: Our Company HistoryNissan Motor Corporation
- Nissan Z: 50 Years of ExcitementNissan Motor Corporation
- Nissan Heritage Collection: SkylineNissan Motor Corporation
- Nissan Heritage Collection: Fairlady ZNissan Motor Corporation
- Nissan Ambition 2030Nissan Motor Corporation