September 18, 2025 – According to a recent report from Motor1, Nissan is implementing a more stringent cost – cutting strategy. The automaker has decided to shut down two design centers, one in the United States and the other in Latin America. Additionally, it plans to scale back its creative design operations in the United Kingdom and Japan.
In the wake of these closures and reductions, Nissan is restructuring its global design network. The Atsugi Design Center in Japan will emerge as the central hub for the global market. Studio Six in Los Angeles is set to transform into the U.S. design epicenter for both Nissan and Infiniti. The London studio will continue to cater to the markets of Africa, the Middle East, India, Europe, and Oceania, and will also collaborate with Renault. The Shanghai studio remains in charge of designing vehicle models for the Chinese market, while the Creative Box in Tokyo will focus on brand and lifestyle experience – related projects.
Nissan’s CEO, Ivan Espinoza, stated that these adjustments are an integral part of the company’s plan to lay off 20,000 employees globally. The company aims to complete the integration of its global design network by the end of March 2026, streamlining it into “five agile centers.” This move is expected to enable faster decision – making, closer collaboration, and more flexible responses to market changes. Although the exact amount of cost savings has not been disclosed, significant savings are anticipated.
Several months ago, Nissan unveiled its “design simplification” strategy. This initiative is projected to save approximately 60 billion yen. Under the “Re:Nissan” recovery plan, the company also intends to reduce the complexity of vehicle components by up to 70%.
The new strategy is set to expedite the development cycle of new cars. The next – generation models can be launched in as little as 37 months, 15 months faster than before. The development time for derivative models will also be shortened to 30 months, 20 months quicker than the previous timeline. Moreover, Nissan plans to cut the number of platforms from 13 to 7 by the mid – 2030s.
