Nissan Design America, Inc. - Farmington Hills

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich.--March 17, 2005--Nissan Design America, Inc. (NDA) opens a new design studio in Farmington Hills, Mich., on the grounds of Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc. The studio represents an expansion of Nissan's design capabilities in Farmington Hills, as well as a shift in design capabilities. The studio, whose main focus traditionally has been production design and feasibility, recently saw the birth of its first concept car -- the AZEAL Coupe Concept -- at the 2005 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The Studio

-- Open floor-plan studio space of 50,912 square feet

-- The Egg: a 15,000 square-foot, steel-mesh enclosed viewing courtyard made for viewing designs in optimal light

-- $14 million investment

-- Recycled and recyclable materials incorporated throughout design

-- Sister studio to Nissan Design America, Inc., in San Diego

The Capabilities

-- 30 fulltime employees

-- Power Wall: a state-of-the-art communications tool for global design

-- Bedplate: the world's longest for clay modeling

-- Zimmerman Mill: a fully automated, programmable mill that can render full-scale clay models with the utmost precision

Nissan Design

Nissan's commitment to the power of design aims to eliminate obstacles in the world of creativity. The global design organization binds the Nissan brand around a rich palette of collaboration, common vision and healthy competition to provide cars for Nissan fans the world over.

-- Headquarters: Nissan Design Center, Atsugi-shi, Kanagawa, Japan

-- Nissan Design America, Inc., of San Diego, CA, and Farmington Hills, MI

-- Nissan Design Europe, headquartered in a new central London studio

-- Other studios: Creative Box Inc., Tokyo, Nissan Shatai Co. Production Design Department, Hiratsuka-shi, Kanagawa

-- Nissan Design is led by Shiro Nakamura, senior vice president, design, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.

Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc. (NTCNA), located in Farmington Hills, Mich., is responsible for blending technology and engineering to create cars that deliver total customer satisfaction. This process involves interaction and cooperation among all technical departments, which results in total vehicle development.

-- Largest single overseas research and development investment by a Japanese automaker

-- Employment: 812 employees, 523 of whom are engineers

-- Investment: $110 million, including expansion completed in 2004

-- Facility: 544,400 square feet in Farmington Hills; 3,050 acres of proving grounds at Arizona Test Center

-- NTCNA President: Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi