Company overview
Datsun, originally a Japanese automobile manufacturer owned by Nissan, began production in 1931. From 1958 to 1986, vehicles exported by Nissan were identified as Datsun. In 1934, Nissan took control of DAT Motorcar Co., changing the name to Datsun, referencing the sun in Japan’s national flag and honoring the company's founders. The Datsun name became well-known for models like the 510, Fairlady roadsters, and Z/ZX coupés. The company initially focused on truck production before transitioning to passenger cars in 1947, adopting designs based on contemporary Austin vehicles. By the 1960s, Datsun began exporting to countries like Australia and New Zealand. In 1958, Nissan introduced Datsun to the American market, initially selling vehicles under the Datsun brand. During the 1960s and 70s, Datsun achieved significant success in Europe, particularly in Britain, where it became a popular choice due to its competitive pricing and reliability. However, the Datsun brand was phased out globally in 1986 as Nissan began using its own name for all vehicles. Within Japan, there was a preference to avoid branding cars with the Datsun name.
