In this episode I provide the history of how Nissan started using the name Datsun for its passenger cars sold outside of Japan in 1958, to avoid any negative connection with the war machines Nissan once built during World War II. The Datsun name originated from DAT motors that existed back in the 1930s. The Datsun name was used on several cars up until 1981, when Nissan decided they wanted to drop the Datsun name worldwide, to bring better brand recognition to the company name. It cost Nissan $500 million US dollars to complete the name change over 4 years. In 2013, thenCEO Carlos Ghosn brought the Datsun name back as a new brand for small cars sold in India and other Eastern countries, but it was a flop, ending by 2022.

Background music by Nick Weiss nickweissmusic.com