1980s

1980's

Fairlady Z / Nissan 300ZX

Japan ranked as the world's top car-producing country in 1980, mostly due to its high U.S. sales. But its car exports became a major source of bilateral trade friction, prompting Japanese makers to begin opening factories stateside.

Notable models in this era include the March (1982), a new-generation basic car, and the unique Pike car series' Be-1 and PAO, which were based on the March.

The appreciation of the yen in the wake of the 1985 Plaza Accord triggered a bubble economy in Japan. 

This led to a luxury car boom that produced some of history's most famous cars. The 1988 Cima became a symbol of the luxury car boom, and the 1989 Fairlady Z created a sensation with its unprecedented performance.

On the R&D front, the Nissan Technical Center in Atsugi, Kanagawa Prefecture, began operations in 1981 as a comprehensive technology-development base. This was followed by the 1983 establishment of Nissan Research & Development Inc. (now Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.) in the U.S.

1980

January

Nissan acquires an equity interest in Motor Iberica, S.A. in Spain.

Cumulative exports surpass 10 million units.

February
March
April
May
June

Safari Model 160

July

Nissan Motor Manufacturing Corporation U.S.A. (NMMC) is established. (The first Datsun truck rolled off the line in June 1983; the first Sentra (Sunny), in March 1985.)

August

Caravan/Homy Model E23

September
Leopard Model F30

Leopard Model F30

October
November
Laurel Model C31

Laurel Model C31

December

1981

January
February
March
April
May
June

Construction of the Kambara Manufacturing Plant, the satellite facility of the Yoshiwara Plant, is completed, and operations begin.

July

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. to adopt unified brand name of "NISSAN" for overseas markets

August
September

Cooperation agreement between Nissan and Volkswagen concluded

October
Sunny Model B11

Sunny Model B11

November

The Nissan Technical Center is completed.

December

Atlas Model H40

1982

January
February

Atlas Model F22

March

Construction of the Kurihama Manufacturing Plant, the satellite facility of the Yokohama Plant, is completed.

April

Pulsar Model N12

Silvia Model S110

↳ World-first: Voice recognition power-assisted windows

New office building belong Nissan Headquarters completed

1982 The 30th Safari Rally (April 15, 1982), totally win through 4 years, with Nissan Violet

Pulsar Model N12

Pulsar Model N12

May
June

Signed a technical assistance agreement in the aerospace industry with Martin Marietta of the United States.

July
August

Prairie Model M10

Civilian Model W40

Prairie Model M10

Prairie Model M10

September

Datsun Vanette Largo Model GC120

Sunny Vanette Largo Model GC120

Cherry Vanette Largo Model GC120

October

March Model K10

Sunny AD Van Model VB11

Pulsar AD Van Model VB11

Datsun AD Van Model VB11

March Model K10

March Model K10

November
December

Announcement of new corporate mark

1983

January

Spain's Nissan Motor Ibérica begins production of the Nissan Patrol (Japanese name: Safari)

Patrol 160 Type 1

Patrol 160 Type 1

February
March
April
May

Oppama wharf completed

June

Cedric Model Y30, Gloria Model Y30

↳ World-first: Windshield wipers that adjust to changes in rain/snow level

Cedric Model Y30

Cedric Model Y30

July

Nissan Research & Development, Inc. is established in the United States.

August

Silvia/Gazelle Model S12

September

Fairlady Z Model Z31

Fairlady Z Model Z31

Fairlady Z Model Z31

October

Bluebird Model U11

Bluebird Model U11

Bluebird Model U11

November
December

1984

January
February

Production and sales of Santana started in partnership with West German VW.

March
April
May

Cumulative domestic sales surpass 20 million units.

June
July
August

World-first: Plasma Spark ignition system

September
October

Bluebird Maxima Model PU11

↳ World-first: Super Sonic Electronic Control Suspension with ultrasonic road surface sonar

Laurel Model C32

↳ World-first: Electric retractable colored door mirrors and Auto Reflex Room Mirror (automatic antiglare LCD)

Laurel Model C32

Laurel Model C32

November

Construction of the Oppama Wharf is completed. (The harbor had been opened in May 1983.)

Construction of the Oppama Wharf is completed.
December

1985

January

World-first: Insulated rear window glass to improve air conditioning performance

February
March
April
May
June
July

Nissan obtains Taiwan government's approval on equity participation in Yue Loong Motor

August

Skyline Model R31

↳ World-first: System that allows locking and unlocking with only a card

Datsun Truck Model D21

Cumulative production surpasses 40 million units.

Skyline Model R31

Skyline Model R31

September

Sunny Model B12

Vanette Model C22

Vanette Model C22

Vanette Model C22

October

1985 WEC in Japan (Oct 22, 1985) only pictures available

Construction of Nissan Overseas Training Center is completed

November
December

1986

January

Kawasaki parts center completed

February

Leopard Model F31

Leopard Model F31

Leopard Model F31

March
April
May

Pulsar Model N13

Vanette Largo Model GC22

Pulsar Model N13

Pulsar Model N13

June

First appearance in the Le Mans 24 Hours race with Nissan R85V

July
August

Terrano Model WD21

September

Caravan/Homy Model E24

October
November
December

Pulsar Model N13

The Pulsar, EXA, Langley, and Liberta Villa win the '86-'87 Japanese Car of the Year award.

Announcement of corporate philosophy and management guidelines

1987

January

The Pulsar, EXA, Langley, and Liberta Villa

↳ World-first: Triple Viscus Full-Time 4WD

Be-1

February
March
April

Cumulative exports surpass 20 million units.

May

Daewoo introduces Vanette under technical collaboration with Nissan

June

Cedric Model Y31

Gloria Model Y31

July
August
September

Nissan exhibits H-I rocket

Bluebird Model U12

Bluebird Model U12

Bluebird Model U12

October
November

Safari Model Y60

Safari Model Y60

Safari Model Y60

December

1988

January
Cedric Cima Model FY31

Cedric Cima Model FY31

February

World-first: Painting with fluorocarbon polymers

March

Nissan's ARC-X wins the "Car Design Award 1988, Torino---Piemonte".

April
May

Silvia Model S13

↳ World-first: Head-Up Display on mass-produced vehicle

Silvia Model S13

Silvia Model S13

June
July
August
September

Nissan to start local forklift production in the United States

Cefiro Model A31

↳ World-first: Automatic antiglare door mirrors

Prairie Model M11

October

Maxima Model J30

The Nissan Silvia Q's win "Good Design Grand Prize" for 1988.

November
December

The Silvia wins the '88-'89 Japanese Car of the Year award.

1989

January

Laurel Model C33

Laurel Model C33

Laurel Model C33

February
March
180SX RS13

180SX RS13

April

Nissan Europe N.V., the Company's regional headquarters for European operations, and Nissan Distribution Service (Europe) B.V., are established in the Netherlands. (Operations begin in April 1990.)

May

Skyline Model R32

June

Cedric / Gloria Model Y31

↳ World-first: Full-range electronic controlled 5-speed automatic transmission

July

Fairlady Z Model Z32

↳ World-first: Four-wheel multi-link suspension system

Fairlady Z Model Z32

Fairlady Z Model Z32

August

Skyline Model GT-R R32

Skyline Model GT-R R32

Skyline Model GT-R R32

September
October
November

Infiniti Q45 Model G50

↳ World-first: Hydraulic active suspension in a passenger car

Nissan develops Intelligent Body Assembly System

December