P.M. BRIEFING : Nissan Chairman Is Knighted

The first man to entrust a large Japanese motor plant to a British work force received a knighthood today from a grateful government.

Clad in a morning suit, Takashi Ishihara, chairman of Nissan Motor Co., was made an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire at a colorful ceremony at the residence of the British ambassador, Sir John Whitehead.

Whitehead thanked Ishihara in Japanese and English before presenting him with a red ribbon and the honor, the highest that can be given to a non-British citizen who is not royalty.

Ishihara was president of Nissan from 1977 to 1985 and the prime mover in the decision to build a plant making passenger cars in northeast England that opened in 1986, exported its first model in 1988 and aims to produce 200,000 cars by 1992.