Nissan History
Nissan traces its roots back to 1911, when the Kwaishinsha Motor Car Works was founded in Japan. The company produced its first car, the DAT, in 1914 and later evolved into the Datsun brand in the 1930s. By 1934, the company was officially named Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and expanded its production of passenger cars, trucks, and military vehicles.
After World War II, Nissan focused on rebuilding and gained recognition with small, affordable cars like the Datsun 510 and the Fairlady Z (known as the 240Z in the U.S.). The 1970s and 80s saw Nissan expand globally, with models like the Z-series sports cars, Skyline, and Sentra gaining popularity. In 1984, Nissan retired the Datsun name and fully transitioned to the Nissan brand.
The 1990s and 2000s saw Nissan innovate with models like the GT-R, Altima, and the Leaf, one of the first mass-market electric vehicles. Nissan also formed an alliance with Renault and Mitsubishi, strengthening its global presence. Today, Nissan remains a key player in performance (GT-R, Z), economy (Sentra, Rogue), and electrification (Ariya, Leaf).
Infiniti History
Infiniti was established in 1989 as Nissan’s luxury division, designed to compete with Lexus, Acura, and European luxury brands. The brand debuted in the U.S. with models like the Q45, which featured a powerful V8 engine, and the M30, a sporty coupe. Infiniti focused on blending luxury, performance, and advanced technology in its vehicles.
During the 2000s, Infiniti gained traction with models like the G35, which rivaled the BMW 3 Series, and the FX-series, an early luxury crossover. The Infiniti Q50 replaced the G sedan in the 2010s, introducing features like steer-by-wire technology. Despite success, Infiniti struggled to expand globally and has refocused its efforts in recent years, with plans to introduce hybrid and electric models while maintaining its luxury appeal.
Both Nissan and Infiniti have evolved through innovation and performance, shaping the global automotive industry while adapting to the shift toward electrification.
