The new company will be called Nissan Motorsports & Customizing Co., Ltd
If you ever wanted to modify your Nissan vehicle from the factory, there are two popular ways to go about it. The first is through the brand's motorsport division – NISMO – with sportier kits, upgraded suspension bits, and more. The other way to do so is by giving it the Autech makeover. Unlike NISMO, Autech parts and kits are often limited to Japanese customers.
It seems Nissan has big plans for NISMO and Autech in the future, making them available to more customers around the world. The automaker has announced that Autech and NISMO will be merged to form a new vehicle customization and motorsports company called Nissan Motorsports & Customizing Co., Ltd. The new company will be established on April 1, 2022, and will be led by NISMO's current CEO Takao Katagiri.
“Autech, with its wide range of expertise, is a pioneer of customized vehicles. NISMO, through motorsports and enhanced driving pleasure, is a symbol of the spirit of challenge in Nissan cars. We are confident that the integration of these two companies will bring us even closer to the pinnacle of exciting mobility we are aiming for,” said Ashwani Gupta, Nissan's Chief Operating Officer.
Nissan says the integration is aimed to better globally utilize Autech's know-how in developing and manufacturing customized vehicles and NISMO’s brand power built up through motorsports. The automaker didn't mention any specifics, but we can expect to see a range of complete cars through this new company. At the same time, expect to see parts and accessories be available to a wider range of global models.
“Both Autech and NISMO have more than 30 years experience and have a solid and wide fan base. By connecting the high aspirations of our employees and advanced craftsmanship for the future, we aim to reach ever greater heights as a presence loved and supported by customers,” said Katagiri.