Why did Datsun change its name to Nissan?

Question

Did Datsun change its name to escape its lousy reputation? Are Nissans any better than Datsun's were?

Answer 1

One argument: Nissan originally named its US-exported cars Datsuns instead of Nissans, but wanted to globally brand its cars by its own name like Toyota and Honda always did, so it changed the name to Nissan to match the name of cars sold in the rest of the world. Nissan originally named its US-export cars Datsuns because Nissan was such a prevalent WWII war machine manufacturer and Nissan was afraid its name would turn off US war-vet car buyers.

Another argument: When Nissan got into a big legal battle with a prominent Austrian designer over the design authorship of the Fairlady (240Z in the US), Nissan pushed the Nissan name over the Datsun name to better establish its market presence in the USA. Market presence and stockholders also factored into the name change as Nissan wanted to better show stockholders it was gaining US market share like Toyota and Honda.

Another argument: When Nissan opened its first USA factory (to build Datsun cars)it was decidedly non-union, and many union workers began a campaign to "Boycott Datsun". As an end run, Nissan changed the name from Datsun to Nissan. The name Nissan was virtually unknown when Nissan decided to change its US cars from Datsun to Nissan, but Datsun owners had good memories of the cars and uninformed people didn't associate Nissan with Datsun.

Nissans were Datsuns in everything but name, so there's no quality difference.

Answer 2

Datsun To Nissan

Answer 3

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RE:
Why did Datsun change its name to Nissan?
Did Datsun change its name to escape its lousy reputation? Are Nissans any better than Datsun's were?

Answer 4

Datsun was always made by Nissan, it was sold as an economy model and was a cheaper vehicle, it was kind of like comparing a Ford to a Lincoln, all about money, the Nissan manufacturer at the time didn't want to carry to names, now look at them they have Infinity their luxury model. Nissan was the luxury model at the time, the Datsun was a better buy, more bang for the buck, the Nissan was over priced and thats one reason it was discontinued, they wanted money.

Answer 5

While extremely popular with Nissan enthusiasts, Datsun ran into financial problems, thus the division of Nissan was dropped in Japan. Most people thought this a smart move, considering some Datsun technology was adapted into Nissan's other models.

Some of the newer models were badged with "Nissan Datsun" to prevent confusion

The marque was discontinued after 1983.

Answer 6

Never did Datsun went out of business

Answer 7

Nissan bought Datsun

Answer 8

Actually, Nissan changed the name to Datsun when they entered the U.S. market. They were trying to soften the image of Japanese fighter planes attacking American troops less than twenty years before by calling their car line a sort of ambigous, non threatning name. They returned to Nissan when they became a giant in U.S. auto sales.

Answer 9

Datsun was always Nissan...that was the parent company...Infiniti is the luxury brand that might soon be phased out as well...it was only created because they did'nt think that euopeans and americans would buy luxury cars from Nissan..they would be thinking...Sentras and Maximas

Answer 10

When Datsun entered the U.S. Market, they Dropped the name and went with Nissan, because the fighter planes that went kamikaze on Pearl harbor were made by Datsun.