Nissan to close Michigan design studio and cut 110 white-color jobs

Nissan announced today that it will cut 110 white-color jobs and will also close its Detroit design studio in order to cut costs. It said it will also close four of its regional sales offices in the U.S. and will cut back its U.S. design operations at its existing studio in San Diego.

Nissan said that its research and development center adjacent to its design studio in Farmington Hills, Michigan, will remain open. According to Nissan spokeswoman Katherine Zachary, 10 design jobs will be cut as a result of the changes. The rest of the job cuts will come from Nissan’s marketing and sales operations.

Zachary said that Nissan is expected to offer buyouts for most of the workers whose positions are being eliminated.

Nissan and Infiniti sales dropped 11 percent in 2008.

Press Release:

NISSAN REALIGNS U.S. SALES & MARKETING, DESIGN OPERATIONS

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (Jan. 27, 2009) ““ Nissan is realigning some of its North American operations to ensure long-term competitiveness in the U.S. market. The actions include a restructuring of the Nissan North America (NNA) sales and marketing operations and the integration of Nissan Design America (NDA).
 
NNA is restructuring its sales and marketing field operations to be better positioned to serve dealers and consumers. Specific actions include transitioning from a field structure based on 11 regional sales offices to a new structure with seven regional sales offices and 23 satellite offices in 18 locations across the United States. This shift involves the closure of four regional sales offices: Nissan Mid-Atlantic in Herndon, Va.; Nissan Northwest in Pleasanton, Calif.; Infiniti Central in Aurora, Ill.; and Infiniti South in Atlanta.
 
Additional enhancements to the sales and marketing organization include expanded personnel assigned to support each dealer and the creation of a dedicated electric vehicle project team.
 
NDA is integrating its operations into its San Diego studio beginning April 1. This action is being taken to strengthen NDA”s role in Nissan”s global design organization by increasing the level of participation in the exploratory and advanced phases of North American and global design projects. This integration will result in the redeployment of the design facility in Farmington Hills, Mich., for use by other functions of the company. This does not impact the research and development operations at Nissan Technical Center North America, which has facilities in Farmington Hills and in Stanfield, Ariz.
 
Taken together, these actions will eliminate approximately 110 positions. Nissan intends to achieve the majority of these reductions through a voluntary transition plan.

Source: Reuters