42% Making Move

Nissan North America Inc. announces that only 42% of those employed at its Los Angeles-area headquarters have decided to move to its new U.S. base in Nashville, TN.

The 42% includes administrative assistants and other clerical staff, Nissan says.

Excluding those workers, some 45% of mid- and high-level NNA staff, including professional, managerial and executive employees, are making the move to Tennessee, the auto maker says.

“The retention percentage is in line with expectations, and we're happy that hundreds of talented people have decided to stay with Nissan as we continue to profitably grow our business,” Jim Morton, senior vice president-administration and finance, says in a statement.

Morton, a southerner, was one of the architects of Nissan's move East, having worked with Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. CEO Carlos Ghosn at Michelin SA's U.S. operations.

Ghosn told reporters last January at the Detroit auto show Nissan hoped to have 50% of staff transfer from L.A. to Nashville.

“My people are telling me if we get 50% we'll be good,” said Ghosn. “Maybe this is a conservative assessment to make sure they are lowering my expectations before it happens, but frankly I don't know (how many will go to Nashville).”

Meanwhile, Nissan says 200 people have been hired or are considering offers to work for the auto maker in Nashville.

“As we prepare to move to our new headquarters, we are considering our intensive recruitment activities through job fairs, a new website and following up with people who have already expressed interest in working for Nissan,” Morton says.

Nissan says it has received 27,000 resumes since the relocation announcement Nov. 10.