The company started with the establishment of Japan Aviation Industries Ltd (Nippon Koku Kogyo K.K) 1937.

Nissan purchased a majority stake that same year, after the company was unable to raise enough money in the stock exchange following the Industrial Reconstruction and Reorganization Act.

[6] In 2001, the Kyoto assembly site was closed down as part of Carlos Ghosn's turnaround plan for Nissan.

[9][10][11] The Koreans had been forced to move there and construct an airfield for the Kyoto government during World War II.

Nissan Shatai eventually sold the land to a real estate company in a controversial deal in 1987.

[12] In 2007, Nissan Shatai's Kanda, Fukuoka branch office was established, and its second Kyūshū factory was completed in 1992 and modernized in 2009.

[13][14] In 2017, the Shonan Plant was one of the Nissan facilities reported for their improper safety inspection procedures.

Situated within NMK's Kanda industrial combine, the latter separate company and plant produces full-size SUVs, minivans, and NV350 Caravan light commercial vans for Nissan.

As of 2018[update] it produces the Infiniti QX80, the Patrol, the Elgrand for the Japanese market, the Armada, the Quest, and the NV350 Caravan.