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Nissan is a Japanese automobile manufacturer headquartered in Tokyo. The company’s origins can be traced back to the early 20th century following the merger of two Japanese companies in 1925. About a decade later, the newly formed company adopted the name ‘Nissan’. As with other motor vehicle companies during the Second World War, Nissan shifted its attention to the manufacture of military equipment including trucks. Following the end of the war, Nissan would suffer a major setback as the Allies seized its factories. It was only in 1955 that Nissan gained back control, paving way for it to produce cars globally.

Nissan eyed the global market as it gained back control of its production. One of the most lucrative options at the time was the U.S, the largest automobile market in the world. Nissan chose to showcase a newer version of one its founding cars, the Datsun Bluebird, at an event in California. The company gained attention, leading it to establish a U.S subsidiary in California. During this time, with the help of newer models including the Datsun Fairlady, 510, and 240Z, Nissan would establish itself as one of the leading automobile exporters in the world.

During the late 20th century, Nissan continued its worldwide expansion with the release of newer, better cars. Among its best-selling models would be the Nissan Sunny, a car still popular today. Soon, Nissan would expand into countries including Brazil and India, where it eyed significant opportunity. However, during the 1990s, things would take a turn for the worse as Nissan found itself in enormous financial difficulty. This forced Nissan to join hands with Renault and form an alliance. The alliance would prove to be fruitful, helping Nissan to stage a spectacular comeback. Today, the Renault-Nissan alliance accounts for the sale of one in ten cars across the globe.