Nissan Motor Philippines
The Nissan national sales company and automotive distribution business serving the Philippine market.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Nissan Motor Philippines is the Philippine automotive sales and distribution organization responsible for marketing Nissan vehicles, supporting dealers, and managing the brand’s local commercial operations. The business is associated with Nissan’s long-running Philippine presence, which began in 1969 when Nissan appointed Universal Motors Corporation (UMC) as an authorized assembler and distributor of Datsun cars and pickup trucks. UMC assembled vehicles at its Pasong Tamo facility in Makati, including Datsun 620 and 720 pickup variants, while also handling pre-delivery inspection for selected Nissan passenger cars. Nissan later expanded its direct corporate involvement. In 1983, Nissan Motor Company established Pilipinas Nissan, Inc. with Marubeni as a joint-venture partner. The company acquired and reconfigured a former Volkswagen assembly facility on E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue in Quezon City and began assembling models such as the Nissan Pulsar and Nissan Stanza. During this period, UMC concentrated more heavily on Nissan light commercial vehicles, pickups, and sport-utility vehicles. Pilipinas Nissan was renamed Nissan Motor Philippines, Inc. in November 1991. In September 2000, control of the business passed from Nissan Motor Company to the Yulon group. A major restructuring took place in September 2013, when Nissan established Nissan Philippines, Inc. as the sole national sales company for the country and resumed direct control of Nissan’s Philippine operations. The new joint venture was owned 51% by Nissan Motor Company, with UMC and Yulon each holding 24.5%. The reorganization separated national sales and distribution from vehicle assembly: UMC and the former Nissan Motor Philippines manufacturing entity continued assembly-related activities, while the new sales company managed the national Nissan business. In October 2014, the former NMPI entity was renamed Univation Motor Philippines, Inc. The Philippine operation has marketed a broad range of Nissan passenger cars, pickups, vans, SUVs, and performance vehicles. Its portfolio has included locally assembled models such as the Sentra, Cefiro, Serena, Vanette, Urvan, Navara, and Almera, as well as vehicles imported from Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, China, the United Kingdom, and the United States at different times. The company has also introduced newer electrified and technology-focused products, including the Leaf and the Kicks e-Power. In January 2021, Nissan announced the closure of its Santa Rosa, Laguna assembly plant, planned for March of that year. The decision ended local production of the Almera at that facility, although Nissan’s Philippine sales, dealer, parts, and service operations continued. Following the closure, vehicles sold in the Philippines were increasingly sourced from Nissan production facilities in other countries. The local business therefore shifted from a combined manufacturing-and-distribution model toward a primarily importation, sales, marketing, and after-sales structure. Nissan Motor Philippines remains active in the Philippine market, with its offering centered on compact cars, electric and electrified vehicles, pickups, vans, SUVs, and selected performance models.
History
Nissan’s Philippine history began in 1969, when Nissan Motor Company appointed Universal Motors Corporation as its authorized assembler and distributor for Datsun vehicles. UMC assembled Datsun cars and pickups at its Pasong Tamo facility in Makati. Early locally handled products included the Datsun 620 pickup and later the Datsun 720 Double Cab pickup. UMC also conducted pre-delivery inspection for several Nissan models, including the Cedric, Laurel, and Bluebird. In 1983, Nissan created Pilipinas Nissan, Inc. in partnership with Marubeni. The new company took over a former Volkswagen assembly plant on E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue in Quezon City and adapted it to Nissan production standards. Its first locally assembled passenger vehicles were the Nissan Pulsar N12 and Nissan Stanza T11. UMC continued to play an important role, particularly in Nissan light commercial vehicles, pickups, and sport-utility vehicles. In November 1991, Pilipinas Nissan changed its name to Nissan Motor Philippines, Inc. The ownership structure changed in September 2000, when the Yulon group acquired control of Nissan Motor Philippines from Nissan Motor Company. Nissan later reorganized its Philippine operations. In September 2013, it created Nissan Philippines, Inc. as the country’s sole national sales company. Nissan Motor Company held 51% of the venture, while Universal Motors Corporation and Yulon Philippines Investment Co. Ltd. each held 24.5%. The new organization assumed responsibility for national sales and distribution, while UMC and the former Nissan Motor Philippines manufacturing company retained assembly-related roles. In October 2014, the former Nissan Motor Philippines entity was renamed Univation Motor Philippines, Inc. Over several decades, Nissan’s Philippine portfolio expanded across passenger cars, pickups, vans, MPVs, SUVs, and performance vehicles. Models marketed or assembled locally at different times included the Sentra, Cefiro, Serena, Vanette, Urvan, Navara, Almera, X-Trail, and other Nissan nameplates. The market also received imported products from Nissan plants in Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, China, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The most significant recent structural change was the announced closure of Nissan’s Santa Rosa, Laguna assembly plant. In January 2021, Nissan said the facility would shut down in March. The plant had assembled the Almera since 2013, and its closure ended Nissan’s local vehicle production in the Philippines. Nissan stated that the country’s sales and marketing network would continue operating, supplied by imported vehicles. The post-closure business is consequently centered on national distribution, retail support, customer service, parts, and vehicle imports rather than domestic assembly. Nissan continues to market a Philippine range that includes the Almera, Navara, Terra, Patrol, Urvan, Kicks e-Power, Leaf, and other models, subject to product-cycle changes.
- 2021
Santa Rosa assembly plant closes
[1]Nissan announced the closure of its Santa Rosa, Laguna assembly plant, ending local assembly of the Almera while retaining Philippine distribution and marketing operations.
- 2014
Former manufacturing entity is renamed
[1]The former Nissan Motor Philippines entity was renamed Univation Motor Philippines, Inc. as part of the operating reorganization.
- 2013
Nissan Philippines becomes the national sales company
[1]Nissan created Nissan Philippines, Inc. as the sole national sales company and resumed direct control of Philippine operations through a Nissan-majority joint venture.
- 2000
Yulon group acquires control
[1]The Yulon group acquired control of Nissan Motor Philippines from Nissan Motor Company.
- 1991
Pilipinas Nissan changes its name
[1]Pilipinas Nissan, Inc. was renamed Nissan Motor Philippines, Inc.
- 1983
Pilipinas Nissan is established
[1]Nissan Motor Company and Marubeni formed Pilipinas Nissan, Inc., which began assembling Nissan passenger cars at a refitted Quezon City plant.
- 1969
Nissan enters the Philippine market through UMC
[1]Universal Motors Corporation became Nissan’s authorized assembler and distributor in the Philippines, beginning local handling of Datsun cars and pickup trucks.
Products and positioning
A Japanese automotive brand operation focused on practical passenger vehicles, pickups, SUVs, vans, and increasingly electrified mobility products for Philippine consumers and businesses.
subcompact sedan · 2000
Nissan Almera
A compact sedan marketed in the Philippines across multiple generations. The Almera was assembled locally at Nissan’s Santa Rosa plant from 2013 until local production ended in 2021; subsequent Philippine-market units were imported, including from Thailand.
pickup truck · 1998
Nissan Navara
Nissan’s midsize pickup truck, sold in the Philippines for both personal and commercial use. The model was locally produced for part of its Philippine history and later supplied through imports, principally from Thailand.
sport-utility vehicle · 2018
Nissan Terra
A body-on-frame midsize SUV positioned for family, utility, and long-distance use. The Philippine-market Terra has been imported from China rather than assembled domestically.
light commercial van · 1992
Nissan Urvan
A commercial and people-moving van offered for business, fleet, and passenger transport applications. It has been part of Nissan’s Philippine range since the early 1990s, with local production followed by imports from Japan.
full-size sport-utility vehicle · 1961
Nissan Patrol
Nissan’s large SUV and an established nameplate in the Philippine market. It was locally produced until 2018 and subsequently supplied through imports from Japan.
electrified crossover · 2022
Nissan Kicks e-Power
A compact crossover using Nissan’s e-Power electrified drivetrain technology. The Philippine-market vehicle is imported from Thailand and represents the brand’s move toward electrified products in the country.
battery electric car · 2021
Nissan Leaf
Nissan’s battery-electric hatchback offered in the Philippines as part of the company’s electric-mobility portfolio. Philippine units were imported from the United Kingdom until 2024 and then sourced from Japan.
sport-utility vehicle · 2003
Nissan X-Trail
A crossover SUV that has appeared in the Philippine range in multiple product cycles. Earlier units were locally produced for part of their lifecycle, while later market availability depended on imported vehicles.
sports car · 2019
Nissan Z
Nissan’s rear-wheel-drive sports-car line, marketed in the Philippines as an imported performance offering. It provides a specialist halo product alongside Nissan’s mainstream passenger and utility vehicles.
Brand decisions
2021
End local vehicle assembly in Santa RosaStrategyBackground
Nissan reviewed its Philippine manufacturing footprint amid changes in regional production and vehicle sourcing.
Action taken
The company announced that its Santa Rosa, Laguna plant would close in March 2021, ending local assembly of the Almera.
Aftermath
Nissan retained its Philippine marketing, distribution, dealer, parts, and service activities, supplying vehicles through imports from other Nissan production locations.
2013
Create a single national sales companyStrategyBackground
Nissan’s Philippine operations had been divided among related entities involved in sales, distribution, and assembly. The company sought a more integrated national commercial structure.
Action taken
Nissan established Nissan Philippines, Inc. as the sole national sales company, with Nissan Motor Company holding a 51% stake and UMC and Yulon each holding 24.5%.
Aftermath
NPI assumed direct responsibility for national sales and distribution, while UMC and the former manufacturing entity continued assembly-related activities.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Nissan Philippines and DOT renew Safe Trips partnership[2]
Nissan Philippines and the Department of Tourism renewed their Safe Trips partnership, which the article says is focused on restoring hope and optimism in the tourism industry. Nissan said the next phase would intensify support for local businesses and raise awareness of sustainable tourism.
Nissan Philippines raises prices on three vehicle models[3]
Reported:
Nissan Philippines updated its local price list, increasing prices for selected Terra, Navara and NV350 Urvan Premium variants.
- Unconfirmed
Nissan Philippines introduces Service on Wheels[4]
Reported:
Nissan Philippines introduced its Service on Wheels program, a mobile service that provides on-site after-sales services and repairs.
EastWest and Nissan Philippines sign strategic partnership[5]
Reported:
EastWest signed a strategic partnership with Nissan Philippines to offer wholesale and retail customer financing options through special auto loan offers.
Sources5 sources
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