MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA: Ferntree Gully Nissan in Victoria has officially opened Australia’s first NISMOPerformance Centre. This dedicated hub brings direct factory-level engineering, elite Japanese technical expertise, and authenticated classic vehicle restoration pathways directly to the Australian market.
As part of a highly coordinated global expansion strategy, the Melbourne opening represents the first phase of an Australian infrastructure rollout announced by Nissan Motorsports & Customizing Co (NMC) and Nissan Oceania.
Factory Parts Supply and Advanced Vehicle Restoration
For restoration workshop operators and independent specialists, the launch signals a massive shift in local supply chains. The centre is structurally equipped to support advanced heritage vehicle builds. It establishes a secure, streamlined pipeline for authentic, factory-stamped NISMO performance and heritage parts.
Crucially for local technical teams, the facility features factory-certified “NISMO Meisters”—elite technicians backed directly by the brand’s global engineering headquarters.
Joining the opening via a recorded message, Yutaka Sanada, Global Head of the NISMO brand, highlighted why Australia was chosen for this rollout.
“Australia is a natural priority because of its mature performance culture, strong GT-R community, and clear appetite for authentic NISMO heritage, performance parts, technical expertise, and motorsport-driven experiences.” — Yutaka Sanada, Global Head of NISMO
Connecting JDM Heritage with the Australian Performance Community
For Nissan car owners who previously faced the logistical headache of importing high-value components directly from Japan, the local center offers an immediate solution.
Michael Hill, Director of Sales and Aftersales at Nissan Oceania, emphasized that the brand is built on passion, authenticity, and direct connection. “Seeing the local enthusiast community come together to celebrate the opening is a great reflection of that passion,” Hill stated.
The freshly launched program simplifies local access to the complete, factory-backed Nissan performance ecosystem, directly benefiting three distinct groups:
- Workshop Operators: Direct local access to genuine, hard-to-find heritage blueprints, panels, and mechanical components.
- Nissan Owners: Certified factory health checks and clear, documented restoration pathways that protect vehicle valuation.
- Performance Enthusiasts: A physical destination to access elite track-upgrades, official accessories, and high-performance tuning expertise.
The facility acts as a vital bridge, providing Australian teams with a local point of access to elite engineering developments engineered by the core motorsport divisions in Japan.
A New Era for the Nissan Skyline GT-R Community
For performance car enthusiasts, the center secures a physical clubhouse for JDM culture in Australia. Ferntree Gully Nissan Dealer Principal, Michael Banjanin, noted that the launch was a natural evolution for the dealership. “Having previously sold the iconic GT-R, we’ve seen first-hand the passion these cars inspire. It’s a privilege to now give that community a dedicated home through NISMO,” he added.
This local rollout perfectly aligns with sweeping international initiatives. Nissan recently scaled up its global restoration, restomod, and classic parts businesses.
The initial commercial focus centers heavily on the legendary Nissan Skyline GT-R (R32, R33, and R34 models), with older heritage vehicles and expanded regional programs slated to follow. This strategy forms part of a broader evolution aimed at bringing Nissan’s long-established ‘track to road’ philosophy directly to everyday driving enthusiasts and builders alike.
