According to the internets, on July 16, 1981 Nissan execs officially changed their brand in the US market from Datsun to Nissan. The campaign to notify the public began in earnest that fall and for three years badges like the “By Nissan” one on this 1981 Datsun 210 (actually a B310 Sunny) appeared on the rumps of various cars.
Even back then, the rebranding effor cost the company over $500 million dollars, says Dan Banks of the Z-Car Club or America (read this for a detailed history). With a sticker price of just under $4000, that could have bought 125,000 Datsun 210s!
[Image: Jalopnik]
maybe cost 500 million initially but then countless billions in decades of sales decline. hooray said toyota & honda