Mississauga, Ont. – Nissan Canada Inc. is proud to celebrate its 60th anniversary, marking six decades of innovation, growth, and commitment to the Canadian market. At its inception in Vancouver (BC) on January 21, 1965, Nissan became one of the first Japanese carmakers to incorporate a Canadian subsidiary.
In its inaugural year, Nissan Canada signed up 84 dealers across the nation. Together, they introduced Canadians to the Datsun brand. These early models quickly gained popularity for their reliability, efficiency, and innovative design, setting the stage for Nissan’s future success in the Canadian market.
“We are incredibly proud of our 60-year legacy in Canada,” said Trevor Longley, president of Nissan Canada Inc. “Our journey from a small team of six to a leading automotive brand is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and passion of our employees, dealers, and loyal customers. As we celebrate this milestone, we remain committed to delivering exceptional vehicles that meet the evolving needs of our customers.”
Nissan Canada Inc. team in 2024
A Journey of Dedication and Growth
Originally headquartered in Vancouver and named Nissan Automobile Company (Canada) Ltd., the company began its journey with just six employees, 84 dealers and more than 1,200 Datsun vehicles sold.
Nissan then began opening regional offices across the country to support its Vancouver Canadian headquarters; a regional office opened in Ontario in 1966, in Quebec in 1967, and in Calgary in 1971. That same year, the 100,000th Datsun reached Canada, and just a year earlier, Datsun had become the number 1 selling import in the country.
Fast forward to 1989, a new headquarters was inaugurated by the late Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion and the then Nissan Canada President, Roy Hoshino, in the city of Mississauga, still home today to the Nissan Canada Inc. head office. Today, Nissan Canada is a 6-year-in-row certified Great Place to Work® with a consistent commitment to fostering a workplace culture that emphasizes diversity, equity, and inclusion.
From left to right, the late Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion and Nissan Canada Inc. President, Roy Hoshino during the opening ceremony of NCI’s new headquarters in 1989.
On October 4th, 1990, Nissan Canada began marketing a new range of luxury vehicles under a separate brand-name – INFINITI, with the support of 11 Canadian retailers at launch. INFINITI sold its very first vehicle in Canada, a Q45, at Woodchester INFINITI in Mississauga. Today, INFINITI is present with 39 retailers across Canada.
1990 INFINITI Q45.
Gord Linkletter has been with Nissan Canada since 1977 and is the longest-serving and still active employee with company. He expressed: “I am excited to celebrate 60 years of Nissan’s existence in Canada. Over the years, I’ve witnessed our growth as a company, the innovations that have been launched here including some of the most iconic vehicles like the GT-R, and simply the company’s unwavering commitment to excellence whether it is to customers, employees, or the community. It’s been a privilege to be part of this journey, and I look forward to many more years of success, camaraderie and to the bright future of both the Nissan and INFINITI brands.”
Gord Linkletter, longest-serving and still active employee with Nissan Canada Inc.
In 1993, Nissan Canada Inc. established the Nissan Canada Foundation focused on helping the communities in which it operates. Aligned with Nissan’s three chosen areas of focus; the environment, education and humanitarian relief, the Foundation continues to establish lasting partnerships ensuring its efforts lead to long-term tangible differences in people’s lives. Equally passionate about Canada’s future, the Nissan Canada Foundation supports endowments, bursaries, and in-kind donations. Today, these have an estimated value of over two million dollars.
Lifetime Partners
Although private importers made brief attempts at selling Japanese vehicles in Canada early in the 1960s, Nissan was the one of earliest manufacturers to establish a full Canadian subsidiary by selling affordable cars and pickup trucks under the Datsun brand-name.
David Lew of Vancouver became the first customer to buy a Nissan Sentra and drive ashore from the Kyushu Maru on April 30th, 1987.
Canadians have trusted Nissan and INFINITI brands for decades, and one family in particular has worked with the two brands for 60-years bringing reliable, quality vehicles and service to their communities in Vancouver. The Morrey family has put their trust in the Japanese company since Nissan’s inception in Canada.
Morrey Nissan of Burnaby, early 80s.
“In the 60s, my grandfather was confronted with a decision at the time to choose which automotive brand to invest in. Datsun was the top contender, namely because of the vehicle’s superior quality and reliability,” explains Jarrett Morrey, general manager of Morrey Nissan of Burnaby.
“Ever since, our family has been with Nissan and INFINITI and we are proud to have served many generations of families throughout the years,” adds Jason Morrey, general manager of Morrey INFINITI of Burnaby.
Today, Nissan Canada Inc. counts 210 independent Nissan dealerships and 39 INFINITI retailers across Canada.
A Legacy of Innovation and Customer Commitment
Over the past 60 years, Nissan Canada brought some of the most iconic vehicles to Canadian streets. First, Datsun vehicles, with their compact dimensions, affordability, and fuel efficiency, matched the needs and preferences of Canadian drivers, particularly during an era when the demand for smaller, more economical vehicles was on the rise.
Datsun 510 and Datsun 1200.
By 1968, Nissan’s Datsun 510 hit the roads becoming one of the brand’s most popular vehicles in Canada. Its distinctive, boxy design quickly made it Nissan Canada’s best-selling import, outpacing competitors. Nissan’s success in Canada continued with models such as the Datsun 1200, known as the Sunny in Japan, and later becoming the most fuel-efficient car in Canada closely followed by the 510. Despite its economical nature, the 510 also gained popularity among auto racing enthusiasts. Reminding us of Nissan’s continued passion for affordable racing like today’s Canadian-only Nissan Sentra Cup.
The Sentra Cup Series.
In the early 1980s, the company began transitioning from the Datsun name to Nissan. The 300ZX was the first model to feature the Nissan badge in Canada for the 1984 model year.
Throughout the years, Nissan has been marketing a broad range of economic, family-friendly, sports, and luxury cars, appealing to a wide customer base. Nissan introduced a variety of successful vehicles in Canada that helped impact and, at times, shape the automotive scene, like the GT-R, Z, J30, G35, Sentra, Altima, Maxima, Xterra, Pathfinder, Murano, and Rogue.
GT-R, Xterra, 300ZX, Murano.
The brand even pioneered in the electrification of vehicles with the LEAF as the first mass market EV, which was introduced in Canada and was delivered to the very first Canadian customer in September 2011 in Ottawa. The electrification journey continued with the introduction of the Nissan ARIYA to the Canadian market in 2022 – marking the brand’s first 100% electric crossover and providing customers with an even larger choice when it comes to their vehicle purchase decision.
Nissan LEAF and Nissan ARIYA.
“As we celebrate 60 years in Canada, our commitment to our customers remains at the heart of everything we do. Our customers’ trust and loyalty have been the driving force behind our success, and we are dedicated to continuing to provide exceptional experiences and solutions that meet their needs. I would like to take a moment to thank our customers for being a part of our journey and we look forward to continuing having the pleasure of serving our communities across Canada with the same passion and dedication,” said Laura Kutlesa, director of customer experience, Nissan Canada Inc.
Celebrating the Past, Embracing the Future
In 2024, Nissan Canada Inc. introduced four (4) all-new vehicles, including the all-new INFINITI QX80, the all-new Nissan Kicks, Murano and Armada. These offerings continue to showcase Nissan’s commitment to providing a trusted vehicle of choice to everyone. This comes in line with Nissan’s plan to achieve its Ambition 2030, from strengthening the product portfolio, advancing electrification, and introducing new ways of developing and manufacturing, as well as harnessing partnerships.
All-new 2025 Nissan Kicks, All-new 2025 Nissan Armada, All-new 2025 INFINITI QX80, All-new 2025 Nissan Murano.
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About Nissan Canada Inc.
Nissan Canada Inc. (NCI) is the Canadian sales, marketing and distribution subsidiary of Nissan Motor Limited and Nissan North America, Inc. NCI was the first Japanese-based automaker to incorporate in Canada in 1965, and now directly employs 306 full-time staff across offices in Vancouver (BC), Mississauga (ON), and Kirkland (QC). There are 210 independent Nissan dealerships, including 87 that also act as Nissan Commercial Vehicles dealers, 136 electric vehicle-certified dealers, and 39 INFINITI retailers across Canada.
More information about Nissan in Canada and the complete line of Nissan and INFINITI vehicles can be found online at www.nissan.ca and www.INFINITI.ca.
For more information about our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit nissan.ca. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn and see all our latest videos on YouTube.