Nissan: who invented the legendary brand and how it conquered the world

When it comes to Japanese cars, one of the first names that comes to mind is Nissan. This brand is associated with reliability, innovation and accessibility, but few people know that its history did not begin with cars, but with a completely different area of ​​business. Founder of the company Masujiro Hashimoto, did not even plan to engage in the production of cars - his initial goal was to create a metallurgical enterprise. So how did a modest Japanese company turn into one of the giants of the global auto industry?

In this article we take a deep dive into history Nissan, let’s figure out who exactly was at its origins, how the brand name was formed and what key decisions led the company to success. You'll learn little-known facts about founders, how first car Datsun was born long before the official birth Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., and why the company chose this particular logo. Are you ready for an exciting journey through time?

Masujiro Hashimoto: the Nissan founder who didn't dream of cars

Name Masujiro Hashimoto (1876–1934) is rarely mentioned in the context of the automobile industry, although he laid the foundation for the future Nissan. Born into a poor family in the prefecture Yamanashi, Hashimoto showed business acumen from a young age. In 1911 he founded the company Kwaishinsha Motor Car Works - the first enterprise that later evolves into Nissan. But there is an important nuance here: initially Hashimoto was not involved in cars, but... production of metal parts for the mining industry.

The turning point occurred in 1914, when Hashimoto released the first car under the brand DAT - an abbreviation for the names of three investors: Den (Den), Aoyama (Aoyama) and Takeuchi (Takeuchi). This small compact car became the prototype of future Datsun, but then no one knew that after a few decades the name Nissan will be known all over the world. Hashimoto retired from business in 1925, selling the company Dat Car Co., but his contribution to the creation of the brand remains invaluable.

• 📅 1911 - base Kwaishinsha Motor Car Works.
• 🚗 1914 - release of the first car DAT.
• 💼 1925 — Hashimoto leaves the company, selling it to new owners.

⚠️ Attention: Many people mistakenly believe that Nissan has been a car company from the very beginning. In fact, for the first 15 years of its existence, the brand was engaged in metalworking and only then switched to the automotive industry.

Yoshisuke Aikawa: the man who made Nissan a global brand

If Hashimoto was a "founding father" then Yoshisuke Aikawa (1880–1967) became the one who turned Nissan into an industrial giant. Aikawa took over the company in 1931, when it was still called Nihon Sangyo (translated as “Japanese industry”). It was he who suggested the abbreviated name Ni-San (based on the first syllables of words Nihon Sangyo), which later transformed into Nissan.

Under Aikawa's leadership, the company began aggressive expansion:

• 🏭 1933 - absorption Dat Car Co. and the start of production of cars under the brand Datsun.
• 🌍 1935 — entering the international market with the model Datsun Type 14.
• 💰 1934 - Automotive division in Nissan Motor Co., Ltd..

Aikawa also introduced a practice that was revolutionary at the time: mass production of affordable cars, which allowed Nissan compete with American brands in the domestic market.

Interesting fact: Aikawa was not only a businessman, but also a patriot. During World War II, he refocused production on military equipment, which saved the company from bankruptcy. However, after the war Nissan had to start almost from scratch - and Aikawa again took on the role of leader, restoring the enterprise and returning it to the world market.

From Datsun to Nissan: how the brand name was formed

Many people are still confused Datsun And Nissan, not realizing that they are one and the same. Actually Datsun was trademark, under which the company's cars were sold from 1931 to 1986. The name appeared as a play on words: DAT (on behalf of investors) + son (translated from Japanese as “son”, symbolizing a new generation of cars).

Switch to brand Nissan happened gradually:

• 📜 1931–1934 - cars are sold as Dat or Datsun.
• 🏢 1934 — registration Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., but Datsun remains the main brand for export.
• 🌐 1986 - complete refusal Datsun in favor Nissan to unify the global image.

Deciding to give up Datsun was caused by the need to create a single strong brand that could compete with Toyota And Honda on the world market.

Year	Event	Brand
1914	Release of the first car DAT	DAT
1931	Absorption Dat Car Co., appearance Datsun	Datsun
1934	Base Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.	Nissan (legally), Datsun (products)
1958	Start of export Datsun in the USA	Datsun
1986	Complete transition to the brand Nissan	Nissan

⚠️ Attention: In some countries, such as Russia, the brand Datsun was revived in 2014 as a budget division Nissan for emerging markets. However, this is another story, not related to the original one. Datsun.

The first Nissan cars: from DAT to the legendary Datsun Type 11

The first car produced under the direction of Hashimoto was DAT Model 1 (1914) - was more like a motorized cart than a modern car. Its engine had a power of only 10 hp, and the maximum speed barely reached 45 km/h. However, this was an important step for the Japanese automobile industry.

The real breakthrough came in 1931 with the release Datsun Type 11 - the first production car that could be called a full-fledged one. Its features:

• 🔧 Engine: 4-cylinder, 495 cm³, 10 hp
• 🚗 Body: open phaeton or closed sedan.
• 💡 Innovation: the first Japanese car with independent front suspension.

Type 11 became so popular that it was exported to Australia and New Zealand, laying the foundation for future international success Nissan.

Why is the Datsun Type 11 considered revolutionary?

This car became the first Japanese production car with independent front suspension, which significantly improved handling. In addition, its compact size and low price made the car accessible to the middle class, which was an innovation for that time.

I wonder what Type 11 produced under license from a British company Austin, but Japanese engineers made so many changes that the car became unique. This experience of cooperation with foreign brands will help later Nissan in the development of our own technologies.

Nissan logo: history and hidden meaning

Logo Nissan - one of the most recognizable in the world, but its design has undergone many changes. The first logo appeared in 1933 and represented red circle with blue rectangle and title Nissan in white letters. This design symbolized the rising sun (red circle) and reliability (blue rectangle).

The modern logo known as "Nissan Emblem", was introduced in 2001. It consists of:

• 🔴 Red circle - symbolizes passion and energy.
• ⚪ Silver stripe - represents innovation and the future.
• 🔳 Geometric shape — reflects reliability and strength.

It is curious that in some countries the logo is associated with Japanese flag, although the company does not officially confirm this.

In 2020 Nissan presented a simplified version of the logo for digital platforms - a flat design without gradients. This was done to better adapt to smartphone screens and social networks. However, the classic 3D logo remains the main one for cars.

Nissan today: how the founders' legacy affects the company

After more than 100 years since its foundation, Nissan remains one of the largest automakers in the world. Today the company is known not only for its production models, such as Qashqai, X-Trail or Leaf (the first mass-produced electric car), but also innovative developments:

• 🔋 Electric cars: Nissan Leaf became the first production electric car with a mileage of more than 400 km on one charge.
• 🤖 Autonomous driving: system ProPILOT allows the car to move independently on the highway.
• 🌱 Environmental friendliness: by 2050 Nissan plans to achieve carbon neutrality.

At the same time, the company does not forget about its heritage: in the museum Nissan The first models are stored in Yokohama DAT And Datsun, as well as documents related to Hashimoto and Aikawa.

However, not everything is so smooth. In recent years Nissan faced serious challenges:

• 📉 Scandal with Carlos Ghosn (2018) - the arrest and flight of the ex-head of the company affected the brand’s reputation.
• 💸 Financial problems: losses in 2020 amounted to more than $6.2 billion.
• 🔄 Restructuring: closing factories and reducing the model range to optimize costs.

However, thanks to the strong foundation laid by the founders, Nissan continues to be a key player in the automotive market.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the creation of Nissan

Who actually founded Nissan: Hashimoto or Aikawa?

Masujiro Hashimoto founded the predecessor company Kwaishinsha Motor Car Works in 1911, but precisely Yoshisuke Aikawa in the 1930s converted it into Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and made it a global brand. Hashimoto was the "founding father" and Aikawa the "father of success."

Why did Nissan abandon the Datsun brand in 1986?

Main reasons:

• 🌍 The desire to unify the brand in the global market (in some countries cars were sold as Datsun, in others - like Nissan).
• 💰 The desire to position oneself as a premium brand (name Datsun associated with budget cars).
• 📈 Marketing strategy: one strong brand is easier to promote than two.

However, in 2014 Datsun was revived as a sub-brand for emerging markets (Russia, India, Indonesia).

What was the first Nissan car sold outside of Japan?

It was a model Datsun Type 14 (1935), exported to Australia. The car was equipped with an engine capacity 748 cm³ and developed speed up to 80 km/h. Interestingly, for export the name Dat was changed to Datsun, since the word "dat" was Dutch slang for "rabbit", which was not associated with reliability.

Is it true that Nissan partnered with Ford in the 1990s?

Yes, in 1992–1994 Nissan And Ford negotiated about a possible merger, but the deal did not materialize. Instead Nissan in 1999 entered into an alliance with Renault, which is still in effect today. This alliance helped the company overcome the financial crisis and return to growth.

What is the best-selling Nissan model in history?

As of 2023, the palm belongs to Nissan Leaf — the company’s first mass-produced electric car. Since 2010, more than 600,000 units. Among traditional cars the leader is Nissan Sunny (known in some countries as Sentra), the total circulation of which exceeded 20 million copies.