Japanese automotive giant, Nissan Motor Corporation, is set to lay off 20,000 employees globally and is considering the sale of its Yokohama headquarters, according to a detailed report by Nikkei Asia.
The sweeping cost-cutting initiative forms a key part of Nissan’s broader restructuring strategy, designed to address surging operational costs, streamline development processes, and reduce the company’s mounting debt burden.
The Yokohama headquarters, valued at over 100 billion JPY (approximately USD 698 million), could be sold by March 2026. Nissan is reportedly exploring a sale-and-leaseback model, similar to the strategy used by McLaren when it sold and leased back its Woking facility in 2021, ensuring business continuity even after the divestment.
Proceeds from the sale would help fund the closure of seven manufacturing plants and support the company’s large-scale job cuts.
Among the factories targeted for closure are the Oppama and Shonan plants in Japan, while the Tochigi facility will remain operational due to its strategic role in vehicle testing and development.
The automaker expects the restructuring to add an extra 60 billion JPY (around USD 415.6 million) in costs during the current fiscal year. However, it forms a critical pillar of Nissan’s “Re: Nissan” recovery plan, aimed at achieving USD 3 billion in cost savings and restoring profitability by fiscal year 2026.
A core focus of the overhaul is a complete redesign of Nissan’s vehicle development process. The company plans to cut its platform architectures from 13 to 7 and reduce parts complexity by 70%, a move expected to accelerate production timelines and drive efficiency.
To facilitate the transition, Nissan is also reassigning personnel within its research and development division to support the streamlined systems, as it seeks to reposition itself for competitiveness and long-term stability in a rapidly evolving global automotive market.
