Nissan expected to move U.S. headquarters from California to Tennessee

Nissan Motor Co. is expected to move its North American headquarters from suburban Los Angeles to Tennessee

State Rep. Glen Casada, who represents part of the county where the company is expected to relocate, said Nissan and state officials will hold a news conference at the state Capitol. The company employs about 1,300 in California, with most of those positions expected to be transferred.

The move would put the company’s North American headquarters in the same state where it has a major assembly plant. Nissan’s manufacturing headquarters is in Smyrna, where it also assembles five models, and it has an engine plant in Decherd. The company employs more than 7,000 people in Tennessee.

A company official said Nissan Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn was scheduled to attend the news conference. The official declined to reveal the location or subject of the announcement and requested anonymity since the company had not authorized the news to be released.

The Tennessean and the Los Angeles Times newspapers, citing several unnamed sources inside and outside the company, reported last week that Nissan was planning to announce its move from Gardena, Calif., to Williamson County, a fast-growing suburb south of Nashville.

State and county officials in Tennessee have not confirmed those reports, but Gov. Phil Bredesen has said Tennessee was trying to attract Nissan.

Industry observers have said Tokyo-based Nissan may be moving to save money. A relocation to the Nashville area would allow the company to take advantage of favorable tax incentives and low cost of living.