The Nissan Yokohama Plant has built 40 million engines in 2023 – the same year Nissan celebrates its 90th anniversary. Yokohama opened in 1935, two years after Datsun’s (Nissan after 1986) founding. It was bombed in the Doolittle Raid in April of 1942 and Japan’s second largest city was almost completely destroyed in subsequent WW2 bombings. Yokohama was making trucks for the Japanese Imperial Army at the time.
Yokohama built its 10 millionth engine in 1976, its 20 millionth in 1986 and its 30 millionth in 1997. With the launch of the all-electric LEAF in 2010, the plant has also been producing electric motors, including those for e-POWER vehicles such as the Nissan Note. During the Japanese fiscal year 2022, motors accounted for approximately 40% of Yokohama Plant’s production.
“We were able to reach the 40 million milestone thanks to so many customers around the world embracing our cars,” said Tamiyo Wada, plant manager of the Yokohama Plant.
A number of engines made at Yokohama are noteworthy in historical terms. The 1979 L20ET was Japan’s first turbocharged passenger-car engine. The 1983 VG was the country’s first mass-produced V6 engine. The Yokohama Plant now makes the VR38DETT engine, which is hand-assembled for the Nissan GT-R. Since 2017 it has produced the VC Turbo said to be the world’s first mass-produced engine featuring variable compression ratio technology.
In addition to producing motors and engines, Yokohama is a pilot plant for the development of powertrain production technology that could have global applications. Next year, a pilot line will be established in the plant to develop all-solid-state batteries.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Milestones – 40M Engines Built at Nissan Yokohama Plant
Yokohama built its 10 millionth engine in 1976, its 20 millionth in 1986 and its 30 millionth in 1997. With the launch of the all-electric LEAF in 2010, the plant has also been producing electric motors, including those for e-POWER vehicles such as the Nissan Note. During the Japanese fiscal year 2022, motors accounted for approximately 40% of Yokohama Plant’s production.
“We were able to reach the 40 million milestone thanks to so many customers around the world embracing our cars,” said Tamiyo Wada, plant manager of the Yokohama Plant.
A number of engines made at Yokohama are noteworthy in historical terms. The 1979 L20ET was Japan’s first turbocharged passenger-car engine. The 1983 VG was the country’s first mass-produced V6 engine. The Yokohama Plant now makes the VR38DETT engine, which is hand-assembled for the Nissan GT-R. Since 2017 it has produced the VC Turbo said to be the world’s first mass-produced engine featuring variable compression ratio technology.
In addition to producing motors and engines, Yokohama is a pilot plant for the development of powertrain production technology that could have global applications. Next year, a pilot line will be established in the plant to develop all-solid-state batteries.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.