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.

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.

The real draw for owners is what the Omori Factory link actually means on the ground.

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