Nissan has historically been Australia's most popular full-line Japanese importer with a history dating back to 1934 when Datsun Phaetons were sold locally.

Renowned for excellent engineering and searing handling and dynamics technology, Nissan has won the hearts and minds of Australian drivers with stunning sports coupes such as the 200SX, 300ZX, the 350Z as well as its legendary off-road line-up.

The roaring sixties

It was the famous Australian automotive industry figure Sir Lawrence Hartnett who initially secured distribution rights for Datsun vehicles in this country after being so enthused by the Datsun 1200 model which was shown at the 1960 Melbourne Motor Show.

Nissan itself subsequently reached agreement with the Hartnett Organisation and commenced local assembly of Bluebird models in 1966 at the Pressed Metal Corporation plant in Sydney.

The famous Datsun 1600SSS - which went on to ignite countless rally careers - was launched in 1967 and propelled Nissan to spectacular sales successes. Local production topped 20,000 vehicles for the year and Nissan was the seventh-biggest name in the Australian market.

The turbocharged seventies and eighties

Nissan entered genuine local manufacture in 1972, with the installation of a highly automated engine plant and vehicle assembly line at Clayton in Victoria and the opening of a new Australian headquarters in nearby Dandenong.

In 1977, Nissan's local production topped 127,754 vehicles.

By 1984 Nissan had gained a reputation as a sports car company with the turbocharged 300ZX selling large numbers, supported by the Gazelle, Exa and Pulsar turbo models.

A change came in 1986 with the launch of two locally produced sedan models - the 6-cylinder Skyline and 4-cylinder Pintara. The stylish new Navara Ute - designed by Nissan Design International in San Diego - was challenging for supremacy in the light commercial segment. Nissan's all-new Patrol 4WD line-up boasted coil suspension all-round and collected numerous awards as well as sales in large numbers.

The award-winning nineties

Local manufacturing ceased in 1992 and Nissan replaced the Skyline with an all-new model called the Maxima - a stylish, contemporary V6 sedan which was already selling in big numbers in major international markets, especially North America.

The switch to full-line importer saw a host of new models introduced during 1994-95 including a new 200SX sports car and the new mid-size V6 Pathfinder 4WD.

Sales surged in 1996-97 with Pulsar priced from $19,990, setting a very strong pace in the small car value-for-money equation. Patrol, Maxima and Pathfinder also consistently exceeded their sales targets.

1998 saw the launch of the all-new GU model Patrol 4WD - within months the newcomer had a swag of magazine awards and was challenging the previously dominant Toyota Land Cruiser for market leadership in the full-size 4WD segment.

The legend continues

The N16 model Pulsar, launched in July 2000, set sensational sales results, while the European designed Pulsar Hatch released in July 2001 boosted sales further since launch.

In October 2001, Nissan updated its entire four-wheel drive range and added the compact four-wheel drive X-TRAIL to the model line-up. Its success has been phenomenal.

The rugged GU model Patrol range also received a facelift and a powerful new 4.8-litre petrol engine making it the most powerful 4WD wagon in its class.

This new engine has proved a real winner with the public and the media alike, and recently collected 4x4 Australia magazine's coveted 4x4 Of The Year Award for the ST model.

In 2006 the small car range saw a close to the Pulsar name, with the new Tiida being the latest small car to carry the Nissan nameplate. With advanced engine and design features it represents a huge step forward for customers globally.

The workhorse Navara range has received a substantial update with a new look and the addition of a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine with class-leading power and torque outputs. With the addition of the D40 Dual Cab Navara in 2005, Nissan topped the market with a 4X4 product that leads in towing, power and torque.

Nissan has repeatedly proven its place as a popular fully-imported Japanese automotive brand in Australia, offering outstanding levels of quality, features and design that represent exceptional value.

Maxima had the unique distinction of being the only V6 in the world to win a place in Ward Auto's 10 Best Engines List - 12 years in a row. A record that moved the judges to call it the “best V6 on the planet!”