Nissan celebrates 55 years in the Philippines

55 years is a long time—that was the year 1969. That was the year my father was born, the Boeing 747 made its first commercial flight, the Concorde had its first test flight, and Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. 

And for the Philippine automotive industry, 1969 was the year that Nissan entered the local market, then under the management of Universal Motors Corporation (UMC) as its local distributor. 

In 1983, Pilipinas Nissan, Inc. (PNI) was established by the Nissan Motor Company (NMC) to handle the distribution and production of passenger vehicles. This was renamed to Nissan Motor Philippines, Inc. (NMPI) in 1991. Eventually, NPI was formed in 2013 under the direct management of the NMC.

With that, Nissan Philippines, Inc. (NPI) kicked-off a year-long celebration of the brand’s 55th year anniversary—dubbed Unstoppable at 55. The kick-off event was held at the Venice Piazza of the Grand Canal Mall in McKinley Hill, Taguig City last November 23-24, 2024 (Saturday and Sunday), and showcased the brand’s history in the country.

The first day was exclusively attended by NPI’s media partners, employees, and local Nissan car club members; while the second day was open to the public with interactive activities, raffle for prizes such as Nissan merchandise, and test drives of the brand’s local lineup.

The event featured a history wall showing the brand’s progress and changes throughout its 55-year presence in the local market, and the Nissan Heritage Display which showcased some of the brand’s most iconic models which each represent different eras in the brand’s global presence.

On display were the Fairlady 240ZG and R32 Skyline GT-R, alongside the present-day versions of the Z and recently launched Z Nismo.

The NISMO Capsule Collection was also unveiled. This exclusive collection contains six unique clothing pieces designed in partnership with local design lab SNK ATK (pronounced like “sneak attack”). The collection blends fashion with the design elements from Nismo which is the Japanese automaker’s motorsport division.

NPI also honored its dedicated car clubs for their passion and loyalty, recognizing their roles in the brand’s growth in the country.

“For 55 years, Nissan has always been a part of the Filipino journey, providing iconic, reliable vehicles. We thank everyone who has supported the brand and look forward to celebrating the next 55 years with them,” said NPI President Yasuhisa Masuda.

“As Nissan celebrates its remarkable 55-year journey in the Philippines, the brand looks forward to continuing its legacy of excitement and innovation with a forward-looking vision, Nissan Philippines promises even more groundbreaking products and services for Filipinos in the years to come,” he added.