Known for being part of the South African motoring landscape, the Nissan Hardbody nameplate has a history that can be traced back to the early 1960’s. This is when the Datsun Motor Vehicle Company first introduced its 1-ton bakkie into the South African market. Now, take a leap forward in time to 1988! This is when the first Nissan bakkies bearing the Hardbody badge were built and they soon became a huge part of the SA bakkie culture.
Produced locally, sold internationally
Produced locally since 1988 at Nissan’s Rosslyn manufacturing facility in Pretoria, the Nissan Hardbody was updated in 1999 and received a facelift in 2002. This saw the Hardbody receive its new diesel power train and renamed the NP300 Hardbody in 2007. This was to bring South Africa in line with international Nissan naming conventions.
Currently the NP300 Hardbody bakkies built in South Africa are sold both locally and in more than 35 Sub-Saharan African countries. They are also exported to the UAE, Russia, Ukraine and Lebanon.
The Nissan Hardbody brand is 25 years young and still going strong!
Did you know? The Nissan NP300 Hardbody forms part of Group1’s comprehensive Light Commercial Vehicle line-up. In fact Nissan currently has one of the widest ranges of commercial vehicles in the country. Contact us to find out more!
