Nismo Opens Its First Performance Center Outside Japan

Australian Skyline GT-R and Nissan Z owners gain local access to Omori Factory-linked restorations and certified Nismo Meisters.

Photo by: Nissan

By: Brian Potter

Oct 7, at 10:00am ET

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Nissan's hottest sub-brand just left Japan for the first time—and it's heading Down Under. Nismo has officially opened its first overseas Performance Center at Ferntree Gully Nissan in Melbourne, Australia, giving local Skyline GT-R and Z owners a direct line to the company's Omori Factory.

The center opened on October 4, 2026, with enthusiasts and GT-R fans turning out for the launch. It focuses first on the R32, R33, and R34 generations, with factory-grade restoration work now available locally instead of overseas.

The First Of Its Kind

Nissan Nismo Performance Center Grand Opening In Australia

Photo by: Nissan

Nissan grumbled for years about the gap between Australian demand for classic GT-Rs and the support available to keep them running. That gap is now Ferntree Gully's problem to solve.

Yutaka Sanada, global head of the Nismo brand, called it "an important milestone in our global expansion." It's the first time Nismo has planted a dedicated Performance Center flag outside its home country since the brand's founding.

Michael Banjanin, Dealer Principal at Ferntree Gully Nissan, described it as a homecoming for the local scene rather than a corporate ribbon-cutting. "It's a privilege to now give that community a dedicated home through Nismo," he said, pointing to the dealership's long history with Nissan's performance lineup.

Michael Hill, Director of Sales and Aftersales at Nissan Oceania, put it more bluntly: Nismo was never just about lap times. "It is about the passion, authenticity and connection that surround Nissan's most iconic vehicles," he said at the launch.

Gallery: Nismo’s First Performance Center Outside Japan Opens In Australia

Source: Nissan

Nismo Restoration, Parts, And Technical Services

The real draw for owners is what the Omori Factory link actually means on the ground. Certified Nismo Meisters now work out of Ferntree Gully. They handle partial and full-vehicle restorations with parts and techniques sourced straight from Japan rather than aftermarket substitutes.

Genuine Nismo heritage components have long been hard to source in Australia. Owners were stuck importing parts piecemeal or settling for reproductions. The center now stocks authentic performance and heritage parts directly, closing a supply chain that frustrated restorers for years.

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Scope extends beyond the R32 through R34 Skyline GT-Rs to Nissan Z models, covering maintenance, technical consultation, and full restoration programs under one roof. Owners get access to the same fabrication know-how Nismo uses on cars dating back to the brand's 1984 founding and its 1986 Omori Factory origins.

Nissan has flagged this Melbourne site as the first stage in a wider Australian rollout, with additional Nismo Performance Centers planned locally from 2027. The company has not confirmed which cities are in line or exactly when new sites will open.