THE BACKBONE The strength behind the Nissan name

Nissan Motor Co, based in Yokohama, is Japan’s secondbiggest motor company, after Toyota. It employs nearly 236 000 people around the world and in its last full financial year, to March 2013, it sold 4,91m vehicles and generated revenue of more than US$116,16bn.

The company has three brands: Nissan itself and the Infiniti luxury marque have over 60 models. And now the revival of the Datsun brand, targeting middle-class buyers in emerging markets, will expand the group’s offerings.

Nissan’s global alliance with French carmaker Renault — the two companies have owned shareholdings in each other since 1999 — has provided huge cost benefits to both by allowing them to share costs of research and development, sourcing and manufacture. Nissan SA, for example, builds vehicles for both brands.

In its last annual results, Nissan reported net revenues of $116,16bn, operating profit of $6,31bn, ordinary profit of $6,38bn and net income of $4,13bn.

Says president and CEO Carlos Ghosn: “We ended the year with a sound balance sheet, record global sales, an improved brand, and an expanded presence in critical growth markets. Equally important, we have taken counter-measures that will enable us to navigate the headwinds that lie ahead and resume significant growth. I am confident we have the right strategy in place to deliver on our business objectives.”

For the 2013 financial year to March 2014, Nissan expects group sales, including Datsun, to increase 5,8% to 5,2m.