America’s largest car market and second largest auto industry region, Southern California, would soon see two auto manufacturers shut their design centers. Volvo of North America, a subsidiary of Ford Motor Company, would abandon its Irvine headquarters in favor of Rockleigh, N.J., by the end of 2008. Chrysler too is shutting its Pacifica Advanced Product Design Center in Carlsbad in a bid to control costs.

Chrysler’s Pacifica Design Center opened in the 80s and has produced some popular designs including the Jeep Willys concept, new Dodge Challenger and the Chrysler 300. This is one of Chrysler’s design studios that focuses on concepts and is considered as their “skunkworks” facility. Chrysler is now combining it’s resources at the Advance Design Center in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

Volvo’s Irvine center is a shared facility with Land Rover and Jaguar, (also part of Ford). As these are likely to be sold to Tata of India Ford is moving Volvo’s operation back East.