The name Nissan comes from an abbreviation used on the Tokyo stock market for Nippon Sangyo. It was called the Nissan Zaibatsu which also included the Tobata Casting and Hitachi. During this time, Nissan was in control of numerous foundries and in the auto parts business. It grew to become the fourth largest combine in Japan during WW2. In 1930, Yoshiuke Aikawa, the founder of the Nissan Zaibatsu, bought shares in DAT Motors. 1933 saw the merger of Tobata Castin’s automobile parts department with DAT Motors.

Nissan Motors was born when Aikawa decided to separate the parts division of Tobata Casting and was incorporated into a new subsidiary which was then named Nissan Motor. The company began by building trucks, airplanes, and engines for the Japanese military.

The 1950s had Nissan looking to the future of expansion in their business and so they partnered with Austin of the United Kingdom to get the most up-to-date automobile and engine designs. Nissan began to realize that their small car lines could find an audience in markets such as Australia and the US. The 1973 oil crisis gave Nissan a huge lead as consumer looked to small economy cars to drive away in.

Since then Nissan has been one of the biggest Japanese car makers. They have continued to push new boundaries in car technology such as hybrids such as the Nissan Leaf. The auto maker is planted to take on the future of the car industry and it’s showing no signs of slowing.

For all of Nissan’s pre-owned vehicles at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge, click on the link!