When Did Datsun Become Nissan?
Quick Answer
Datsun became Nissan over a five-year window. Nissan announced the switch in the fall of 1981 and phased out the Datsun badge gradually, finishing the changeover around 1986. Datsun and Nissan were always the same company; Datsun was simply the name Nissan used on vehicles exported to markets like the U.S.
Spot a classic 240Z or an old Datsun pickup at a Lake Country car show, and someone nearby is bound to ask: “When did Datsun become Nissan?” It’s a question our team at Nissan Lake Country in Oconomowoc hears often, and the answer says a lot about the Nissan you drive today.
Key Takeaways
Nissan announced the switch from Datsun in the fall of 1981, and the change rolled out gradually through about 1986.
Datsun and Nissan were always the same company. Datsun was the name used for vehicles sold in export markets such as the U.S.
The first Nissan pickup built in America rolled off the line in Smyrna, Tennessee, on June 16, 1983, wearing dual Datsun-Nissan branding.
Classic Datsun icons like the 240Z, 510 and King Cab have modern descendants in the Nissan Z, Sentra and Frontier.
Nissan’s next chapter includes the all-new 2026 LEAF and electrified options like the Rogue Plug-in Hybrid.
What Year Did Datsun Become Nissan?
There’s no single date. Nissan announced the change in the fall of 1981 and gradually phased out the Datsun badge, wrapping up around 1986. So if you’re wondering “What year did Datsun become Nissan?” the most accurate answer is a five-year window.
Why take so long? Americans had spent more than two decades trusting Datsun, and Nissan didn’t want loyal owners to feel like their favorite brand had vanished overnight. For a few years, both names shared dealership lots, and some vehicles wore both badges at once.
The reasoning was practical. Two names for the same vehicles meant separate ads, separate branding, and shoppers who didn’t realize Datsun and Nissan were one company. One global name simplified everything.
A big milestone arrived on June 16, 1983, when the 1984 Nissan pickup rolled off the line at the brand-new plant in Smyrna, Tennessee. Early models carried dual Datsun-Nissan branding to help buyers make the switch.
Datsun vs. Nissan: Were They Ever Separate Companies?
Nope. Datsun was a vehicle name, and Nissan was the company building those vehicles, so the Datsun vs. Nissan question is really about one family tree with two branches.
The story starts in Tokyo in 1911 with the Kwaishinsha Motor Car Works. In 1914, it built its first car, the DAT, named for investors Den, Aoyama and Takeuchi. A 1931 model was called the Datson, or “son of DAT.” The trouble? “Son” can sound like the Japanese word for “loss,” so the name was changed to Datsun, a nod to the sun on Japan’s flag.
The Nissan name took hold in 1933, when founder Yoshisuke Aikawa listed his company on the Tokyo Stock Exchange under the ticker NISSAN. Export markets kept the Datsun name for decades. Here’s a quick look at the milestones that connect the two names:
Datsun to Nissan Timeline
What Does the Future Hold for Nissan?
A bright one. Nissan is building on the same mix of value, durability and fun that made Datsun famous, while pushing further into electrified driving.
That Datsun Nissan heritage is easy to spot in today’s showroom:
Classic Datsuns and Their Modern Nissan Descendants
Datsun 240Z to Nissan Z: Accessible performance that launched the Z-car legacy.
Datsun 510 to Nissan Sentra: A fun, efficient sedan styled with American drivers in mind.
Datsun King Cab to Nissan Frontier: The first extended-cab pickup, introduced in 1977, set the tone for Nissan’s tough midsize truck.
Looking ahead, Nissan introduced the LEAF in 2010, calling it the world’s first mass-produced, 100% electric car, and the all-new 2026 LEAF now arrives as a crossover. Prefer not to go fully electric? There’s the Rogue Plug-in Hybrid, plus a 2027 Rogue Hybrid that Nissan expects to be available in limited quantities starting in November 2026.
From Datsun to Nissan: A Legacy That Keeps Moving Forward
So, when did Datsun become Nissan? Officially, between 1981 and 1986, but the values behind the badge never changed. If you’re curious where that heritage leads today, our team at Nissan Lake Country in Oconomowoc is happy to walk you through the lineup, from the Z to the newest electrified models.
Ready to see how far Nissan has come? Browse the new Nissan inventory at Nissan Lake Country, or contact the team with questions about any model. And if a pre-owned Nissan fits your plans better, the used inventory is worth a look, too.
FAQ
Was Datsun a separate company from Nissan?
No. Datsun was the name Nissan used on vehicles sold in export markets like the U.S.
What year did Datsun become Nissan?
It happened over a few years rather than on one date. Nissan announced the change in the fall of 1981 and phased out the Datsun badge gradually, with the changeover wrapping up around 1986.
Why did Nissan stop using the Datsun name?
Nissan wanted one global brand. Using two names for the same vehicles meant extra marketing costs and confused shoppers.
Were any vehicles badged as both Datsun and Nissan?
Yes. Early Nissan pickups built in Smyrna, Tennessee, starting in 1983, carried dual Datsun-Nissan branding to help buyers adjust.
When did Datsun first come to the U.S.?
Datsun arrived in the U.S. in 1958 and spent more than two decades building an American following before the switch to the Nissan name.
Where does the name Datsun come from?
The first car, built in 1914, was the DAT, named for investors Den, Aoyama and Takeuchi. A 1931 model became the Datson, or son of DAT, and because “son” can sound like the Japanese word for loss, the name was changed to Datsun as a nod to the sun on Japan’s flag.
Is the Datsun brand still around?
Nissan revived Datsun for select emerging markets in 2013, then discontinued it again in 2022.
Which modern Nissan is related to the Datsun 240Z?
The Nissan Z. It traces its roots directly to the 1969 Datsun 240Z.
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