The Nissan Motor Company was created in 1934 after the merger of two other Japanese car manufacturers. Originally the company built trucks, airplanes and engines for the Japanese military and it continues to be known as one of the world’s leading engine designers.

In 1966 Nissan was involved in another merger, this time with Japanese company Prince. With Prince came the Skyline, a model which is still being produced today. The Skyline GT-R has, along with the popular Z-car range, helped Nissan develop a reputation for producing some of the world’s finest sports cars.

Financial problems during the 1990s led to the purchase of a controlling share in the failing company by Renault. Under the ‘Nissan Revival Plan’ the company was completely transformed – clearing all debts and going on to make record profits. Renault’s plan to revitalise Nissan is continuing with CEO Carlos Ghosn becoming a minor celebrity in Japan due to the success of his initiatives.

Nissan began production in the United Kingdom in 1986, opening a plant in Sunderland. In 1992 this plant produced the Micra, which was named as 1993’s European Car of the Year.

The Sunderland plant has become not only the UK’s largest, but the most productive in Europe, with over 400,000 vehicles expected to be produced there in 2007. Nissan has also established itself around the world with factories in Australia, Mexico, South Africa and the USA in addition to its Tokyo headquarters.

EuroNCAP Safety Ratings for Nissan cars
The European New Car Assessment Programme produces reports on the safety of vehicles based on the results of several crash tests. As well as measuring how the car will hold up in a crash the risk to a pedestrian struck by the car is assessed. The star ratings (maximum 5) of key Nissan models are shown below.