Nissan puts London design studio at heart of growth plan

Nissan’s launch of its central design studio in Japan last month is part of a global expansion programme, with London as the ‘creative stimulus’, according to David Godber, director of the car manufacturer’s London design studio.

In the past five years Nissan has invested heavily, with additional design sites in London, San Diego, Michigan and Taiwan. Godber says, ‘This is a reflection of the increase in workload. The consequence is that we have created jobs in all of these regions. We are looking for the best talent globally, certainly with the UK, because London is the creative stimulus. This is because the link between design and manufacturing in London is really good.’

The studio in Japan covers an area of 42 000m2 and has been developed to strengthen working relationships with each design organisation, as well as Nissan’s product planning and engineering departments and its supplier companies.

According to Nissan Motor Company’s chief creative officer Shiro Nakamura, the centre represents a shift in how the company is working globally with other studios to increase the speed with which innovative products are delivered to market.

‘Any products created globally come through Europe to make sure they represent the European models.

Complex products like cars have to be tuned to look like a local brand. If you come to the UK you’ve got absolutely every brand around, we are the most diverse market,’ adds Godber.