Nissan’s Global Design Director, Alfonso Albaisa, confirmed to Automotive News the upcoming closure of the design studios in San Diego, California, and São Paulo, Brazil. Presented as a streamlining effort, this decision appears more like a strategic retreat for the automaker.
A Challenging Financial Context
These closures are part of a broader restructuring plan. Nissan, facing financial difficulties, had already announced plant closures and the elimination of 20,000 jobs. Design teams are directly affected by these budget cuts.
The Rise of the Chinese Studio
According to Automotive News, Nissan’s design office in Shanghai has stood out with significantly higher productivity compared to other sites. Alfonso Albaisa indicates that the Chinese teams produce designs with a 30 to 40 percent reduction in development time.
A New Global Organization
By March 2026, Nissan’s design activities will be refocused on its main sites: the Global Design Center and Creative Box Studio in Japan, Studio Six in Los Angeles, Nissan Design Europe in London, and, of course, Nissan Design China in Shanghai.
The Goal: An Accelerated Development Cycle
This restructuring aligns with CEO Ivan Espinosa’s plan, which aims to reduce the vehicle development cycle from 52 to 37 months, and the next generation’s from 48 to 30 months. The upcoming Infiniti Q50, announced with a twin-turbo engine and a manual transmission, is expected to be the first vehicle designed on this new compressed timeline.
Attractive Products Despite Turbulence
Despite these internal challenges, Nissan continues to launch compelling products. The New Z is stunning, the new Leaf represents a huge improvement, the Frontier remains a highly regarded mid-size pickup, and even the modest Kicks charms with its design. It remains to be seen whether this momentum can be maintained with a reduced workforce.