Tokyo -- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today inaugurated a new design studio complex that will serve as the central hub for the company's global design activities. The new design studio covers an area of 42000m2 and is located at the Nissan Technical Center in Atsugi, Kanagawa Prefecture.
The completion of this new design studio is part of a comprehensive program that Nissan has undertaken since 2001 to enhance and expand it's global design facilities, the last of the global studios to be upgraded.
"This latest investment in the future of our design capabilities is proof that Nissan intends to stay a leader in the area of automotive design," said Shiro Nakamura, Chief Creative Officer, Nissan Motor Company. "Our new global design center represents a shift in how we are working cross-globally with the other studios and cross-functionally with engineering to deliver more innovative products faster to market," continued Nakamura.
Under the theme of "collaboration and communication," the new studio has been designed to strengthen the working relationships not only with each design organization, but also with product planning, engineering and supplier companies. The new studio will also be instrumental in advancing the digital design and engineering processes that Nissan is implementing throughout the company.
The facility is zoned for each project and every member of a project--not only designers but also modellers, product planners, engineers, and any other staff -- can work closely in one area. In addition, there are specific areas such as the 'information gallery' where designers can immerse themselves in creative ideas from the latest global design trends. The new design studio will employ about 600 designers and associated support staff.
Nissan currently has design studies at six locations worldwide, two in Japan (Atsugi and Harajuku), two in the United States (San Diego and Detroit), one in the United Kingdom (London) and one in Taiwan (Miao Li Hsien).
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