Who Owns Nissan?

Nissan's history begins with the Kwaishinsha Motor Car Works, founded in 1911 in Tokyo by Masujiro Hashimoto. In 1914, the company produced its first DAT model, named using the initials of the company's three investors: Den, Aoyama, and Takeuchi. The small car was later marketed as the "Datson" (son of DAT), which evolved into the Datsun brand name.

In December 1933, Yoshisuke Aikawa established Jidosha-Seizo Kabushiki-Kaisha, which became Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. in June 1934. The company grew rapidly before World War II, producing trucks and vehicles for both civilian and military use. After the war, Nissan rebuilt its operations and began exporting vehicles, initially under the Datsun brand name.

The 1960s and 1970s marked Nissan's emergence as a global automotive force. The Datsun 240Z, launched in 1969, became one of the best-selling sports cars in history and established Nissan's reputation for affordable performance. The company expanded manufacturing to the United States, United Kingdom, and other markets, becoming one of Japan's largest automakers.

By the late 1990s, Nissan faced severe financial difficulties with debts exceeding $20 billion. In 1999, Renault acquired a 36.8% stake in Nissan and appointed Carlos Ghosn as COO. Ghosn's "Nissan Revival Plan" dramatically restructured the company, returning it to profitability within two years in what became one of the most celebrated corporate turnarounds in automotive history.

Nissan pioneered mass-market electric vehicles with the Leaf, launched in 2010, which became the world's best-selling electric car. In 2016, Nissan acquired a 34% controlling stake in Mitsubishi Motors, expanding the Alliance. In 2023, Renault reduced its stake in Nissan to 15%, establishing a more balanced partnership. Nissan continues to invest in electrification, autonomous driving technology, and next-generation vehicle platforms.