Nissan exec is Nashville-bound

Jan Thompson, Nissan North America's marketing VP, is one of the few top executives making the trek from Los Angeles to the new headquarters in Nashville. Not that she is entirely revved up about the change. At the Automotive News Marketing Seminar in Los Angeles last week, she jokingly read a portion of her speech in the tone of someone held captive against her will: "I am very happy to be moving to Nashville ... away from my house in Laguna Beach. Please come visit."

TIGHT SPOT -- Advertising during the May sweeps period is a must-do for car companies. But Mazda worked its way into the dialogue of the season finale of NBC's "Scrubs." The lead character, played by Zach Braff, falls for a fellow doctor when it turns out they both punctuate their zingers with the Mazda slogan "zoom-zoom-zoom." The love interest later confesses to going on her first date "in the back seat of a Miata." The Miata is a two-seater. Oh, well, this is Hollywood, after all.

OUTSOURCING PAYS OFF -- As India gains clout on the global economic stage, Rolls-Royce has opened its first dealership there. Rolls expects to sell 10 to 12 of Phantoms a year in India. "Someone who has $20 million in cash and in assets and likes cars, loves beautiful design, craftsmanship and engineering ... that's the kind of person we're looking at," Colin Kelly, Asia Pacific director of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, told Reuters at the new Rolls showroom in Mumbai. "Anyone that buys a Rolls-Royce has to feel good about how they've earned their money."

MANY MINIS -- Mini USA observed a major milestone last week, delivering its 150,000th car to a U.S. customer. Mini, a BMW unit that began selling cars in the United States in 2002, says it reached that number 3½ years ahead of schedule. The car, customized with checkerboard graphics and racing stripes, was purchased from Sandia Mini in Albuquerque, N.M. Mini USA says owners add an average of $5,000 worth of factory- and dealer-installed options to dress up their cars.

SALUTING DISABLED VETS -- The Ford Motor Company Fund, one of the automaker's philanthropic arms, has donated $500,000 to help build the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial. The $65 million memorial will be next to Washington's National Mall, across from the U.S. Botanic Garden.