Datsun is a brand of the Nissan motor company, since the 1950s used only for export models. As I recall, the Nissan "Cedric" was the first Japanese car to Launch in the Australian market, mid-sixties. It was somewhat lacking in style and the name was a joke at the time, being considered effeminate (among my juvenile friends). The Datsun brand came later to Australia, first with tinny little sedans and utes, then later gaining a better reputation led by its sports coupes as noted by Vintage Pete. The Nissan name was always used for the firm's heavy vehicles and trucks since the 1930s, then came back to export cars with the Skyline models. Some cars sold as Datsun in Australia were sold as Nissan in the USA (240Z, Fairlady).

Maven

I once spoke to TEAC CEO Harjime "Jimmy" Yamaguchi at a show in the late 80's, he said Australia was the first export market they focused on and was pivotal to their success.

Over the decades, a number of foreign companies have considered Oz a trial market for their products. Probably still the case.

National Panasonic's Australian factory continued for many years, making colour sets as well. In fact, if memory serves, they were the last Australian TV factory to close, in 2006. See http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2006/s1554891.htm.

Don't forget the Nissan had an Australian factory as well for many years, 1966 to 1992. I do remember Wheels magazine lamenting that the imported Pulsar was but a shadow of the Australian made version.

As for television, there was also a Rank-NEC factory out west wasn't there?

I do remember Wheels magazine lamenting that the imported Pulsar was but a shadow of the Australian made version.

They said much the same about the Datsun 200B. The Australian-made version with a live rear axle handled better than the original imported version with independent suspension. Hard to imagine, but yeah. The Datsun name disappeared here around 1982.

In the years prior to the (in my opinion, failed) Button car plan, Holden and Nissan were already doing badge-engineering. A Nissan engine powered the Holden Commodore for two years and a Holden engine powered the Nissan Pulsar and rebadged Holden Astra between 1986 and 1990.

This is my National Panasonic FM
I really like this one,Still works well and I have only ever seen one other. Its made in Japan

Panasonic nearly went broke around 2010 after they had "doubled-down" on their bet that Plasma was the "TV display with a future".
I could have told them that it will not end well, but it will end soon!

They were indeed the last to stop selling plasma screens in Australia and that was only a couple of years ago. Plasma still offers the best picture quality though so LCD and OLED still have a little bit of catching up to do. Both these technologies are good but when placed beside a plasma screen in a department store display the picture quality, contrast and refresh speed of plasma is noticeable when compared to the others.

Those who got the last Plasmas were lucky, very expensive and difficult to manufacture.

Those who got the last Plasmas were lucky, very expensive and difficult to manufacture.

Mate of mine bought 3 of them back in the day.

He's now in the process of repairing one of them. Bulging electrolytics, with unusual capacitance values not easily procured.

Speaking of Panasonic plasma TV's, I recently acquired a 6 year old Panasonic TH-P42U20A that needed some repairs due to a leaky connector to one of the COF's (Chip On Film) column driver IC's that caused a dark bar to appear on the screen.

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