Nissan fixin' to go country *

Talk of Nissan departing Los Angeles County appears to be more than talk. Thursday's Times says that the company "is likely to announce as early as next week that it will move its North American headquarters, and 1,300 jobs, from Gardena to Tennessee as a cost-cutting measure." No official confirmation or denial, but not many anonymously sourced stories seem this solid. The Times says "about a dozen people, including Nissan managers, auto consultants and government officials," said the move has been set in motion. Company insiders say Nissan has signed a deal to lease a new headquarters in Williamson County, Tenn., near Nashville. The LAT's John O'Dell notes that Southern California is home to all but one of the ten Asian automakers doing business in the United States.

* Saw it coming: Rusty Hammer at the L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce in early October. 9:55 am