Nissan Diesel '1960–01.2010
(Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd.)
In December 1935, Nihon Diesel Industries, Ltd, in Kawaguchi, Japan on the outskirts of Tokyo was established under the leadership of Kenzo Adachi, where he purchased diesel engine schematics from a Krupp-Junkers patent.
In 1940 production of 4.5-ton-payload TT6 series trucks started, and in 1942 the company was known as Kanega-Fuchi Diesel Co., Ltd.
In 1946 the company name changed to Minsei Industries, Ltd. In 1949 development of 7.5-ton-payload TN93 series trucks started.
In 1955 the UD name was born, when Minsei Diesel Industries introduced a range uniflow-scavenging 2-cycle diesel engine. The UD stood for "Uniflow Diesel", named after the engine they had invented for use in their trucks.
In 1960, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. acquired Minsei Diesel, and renamed it to Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd.
In 1995 Nissan Diesel produced its two millionth vehicle.
Nissan Diesel was purchased by the Volvo Group in 2007, becoming a subsidiary.
On 1 February 2010, Nissan Diesel changed its name to UD Trucks.