Nissan Motor Company, Ltd. is a global automotive company with vehicle sales of 3,411,000 in 2008. Nissan was founded in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture in 1933 and today has sixteen production sites in Japan and abroad, and offers products and services in more than 160 countries worldwide. In 1999, Nissan entered into an alliance with Renault S.A. of France, which now owns 44.4% of Nissan. Nissan is among the top three Asian (also known as the Japanese “Big Three”) automotive manufacturers rivals of the “Big Three” in the US and is present in all major automarkets worldwide, selling a comprehensive range of cars, pick-up trucks, SUVs, and light commercial vehicles.