1940s
Tama Electric Vehicle (Passenger Car) E4S-47-I
Economic activities in the civilian sector were extremely restricted during World War II and auto manufacturing was limited to military vehicles. Material shortages continued after the war's end in 1945, causing difficulties for the automobile industry.
Following the postwar dismantling of Japan's aircraft manufacturing industry, however, many workers from that industry moved to the automobile manufacturing sector. This laid the foundation for new technologies to emerge.
In November 1945, the first car rolled off Nissan Motor's production line and from 1946 on, sales of Datsun trucks, cars and other vehicles resumed.
Meanwhile, the Tokyo Electro Automobile Co. (later Prince Motors, Ltd.) was founded by engineers from the former Tachikawa Aircraft company. It began selling an electric car in 1947, helping to meet demand for taxis and other vehicles.
1940
| March | ▪ |
The first knockdown (KD) units are shipped to Dowa Jidosha Kogyo in Manchuria. |
1941
| February | ▪ |
Nissan
Truck
Model
180 
Nissan Truck Model 180 |
1943
| August | ▪ |
Construction of the Yoshiwara Plant is completed. (Operations begin in October 1943.) |
| December | ▪ |
World War II progresses: production of cars and trucks is completely stopped. |
1944
| September | ▪ |
The head office is moved to Nihonbashi, Tokyo, and the Company name is changed to Nissan Heavy Industries, Ltd. |
1945
| November | ▪ |
The first postwar-manufactured car rolls off the line. |
1946
| January | ▪ |
Headquarters returns to Yokohama. |
| August | ▪ |
Nissan Truck Model 1121 Research and development of textile machinery begins. |
1947
| February | ▪ |
Nissan Truck Model 2124 |
| May | ▪ |
Tama
Electric
Car
E4S47 
Tama Electric Car E4S47 |
| November | ▪ |
Datsun Passenger car Model DA |
1948
| March | ▪ |
Datsun Passenger car Model DB 
Datsun Passenger car Model DB |
1949
| February | ▪ |
Nissan Bus Model 290 |
| August | ▪ |
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. is reestablished as the Company name. |
| - | ▪ |
Datsun Truck Model 3135 |