With sales down more than 30 per cent, Nissan has brought out the big guns in the quest for the hearts and minds of Aussies drivers.
Nissan Motorsports & Customising, together with Nissan Oceania, has confirmed a multi-phase plan to expand Nismo’s presence in Australia.
It spells enhanced access to authentic Nismo parts, accessories, heritage support, technical expertise and customer experiences.
Nismo for the uninitiated is the short form for Nissan Motorsports International and as its name suggests is the go-fast division of the company.
At the core of Nissan’s grand plan is establishment of Nismo performance centres in Australia, bringing Nismo Omori Factory expertise closer to local customers.
These centres will provide a direct link to Nismo’s Omori Factory in Japan, support advanced vehicle restoration programs, and feature factory-certified Nismo Meisters backed by Nismo’s global expertise.
The first local Nismo Performance Centre will be set up at Nissan Ferntree Gully, Victoria in the second half of 2026 — with additional locations to follow.
The announcement coincides with the Sydney visit of President and CEO of NMC and global head of the Nismo brand, Yutaka Sanada, ahead of the local GT-R Festival.
Sanada-san said Nismo’s global expansion is about bringing the brand closer to customers in the right markets, with the right products, services and experiences.
“Australia is a natural priority because of its mature performance culture, strong GT-R community and clear appetite for authentic Nismo heritage, performance parts, technical expertise and motorsport-driven experiences,” he said.
The visit comes at a pivotal time for Nismo, following the brand’s announcement in December, 2025 outlining a significant global expansion strategy.
This includes plans to grow its restoration, restomod and parts businesses, initially focused on the legendary Nissan Skyline GT-R (R32, R33 and R34), with further vehicles and regional programs to follow.
The broader global strategy will also see the Nismo brand expand its footprint into more markets, increase its model lineup, evolve beyond traditional sports cars into new segments, and reinforce Nissan’s long-established “track to road” approach to motorsport-derived innovation.
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