As part of Nissan’s Green Program 2010, the 2000-employee center’s Advanced Vehicle and Electric Powertrain labs will research strategies to reduce vehicle carbon dioxide emissions, including hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and electric vehicles.

The “open-concept” architecture of the NATC is designed to foster collaboration between departments. Nissan expects the center, which cost $yen;90 billion (US$748 million,) to be awarded with Japan’s highest "S" rating for the environmental performance of buildings.