Sorry, Michigan: Nissan Design America leaving state for San Diego

Nissan announced some realigning measures today that ultimately add up to resignations and relocations. The measures affect Nissan North America sales and marketing and Nissan Design America, specifically. The first reduces the number of regional sales offices around the country from 11 to just seven that are supported by 23 satellite offices. The four offices to be closed are in Herndon, VA; Pleasanton, CA; Aurora, IL; and Atlanta, GA.
The second adjustment directly involves Michigan where, back in 2005, Nissan had opened a new branch of Nissan Design America in Farmington Hills. That branch of NDA will be no more, as Nissan announced today that it will integrate the Farmington Hills studio with its San Diego design studio (shown above). The studio in Farmington Hills, which is only four years old, will remain and be repurposed by Nissan for other uses. Retreat camp, perhaps? Who knows, but the net effect of all this shuffling is a Nissan North America that's 110 employees lighter.
The Japanese automaker hopes a "voluntary transition plan" will achieve the reduction in staff. We don't know many people who would voluntarily walk away from a good job in this economic climate, so the state of California may need to open its arms for some relocating refugees from Michigan.