From styling conflict to SOP alignment—
I design for what really happens.
Born in Mexico. Built
my foundations in Nissan.
Body Design Engineer
Body Closures Design
Supervisor
Body Closures DRE
Body Closures Design Liaison
Earned mastery at GM USA
with 40 programs + 25 architecture programs.
Interior
Design Engineer
Interior DRE
Technical Design Lead
Technical
Specialist
Door Trim Architect
Subject Matter Expert
Technical
Lead & Knowledge Manager
Recognized with a President's Award
for innovation. Corvette C8 Door Trim Engineering 3.6M
savings, 5+ New Materials,
2 Patents.
I lead not just with expertise
—but with OEM Insight.
GM & Nissan NA and MX plants
supported.
Several Supplier Plant facilities in collaboration
(Stamping, Mechanism, Plastic, Wrapping, Lighting,
Thermoforming)
Bringing design intent into technical feasibility. From styling sketches to manufacturing targets.
Solving subsystem conflicts, aligning cross-functional teams, and delivering on program constraints.
Coaching engineers, sharing systems knowledge, and making complexity teachable.
I wear the right hat at the right moment—sometimes all three.
🎯
20+ years navigating between global strategy and local
execution.
USA 🇺🇸 + Mexico 🇲🇽 | GM + Nissan
🔹
Interior Architect & SME
🏢
General Motors – Warren, MI
🕒 4.8 years
✍️ Led 25 interior architecture programs (Cadillac, GMC, Chevrolet,
Corvette)
🤝 Studio collaboration, EV/AV platforms, closures, CAE, and SOP
support
🔹
Liaison Engineer – Body Closures
🏢
Nissan – Farmington Hills, MI
🕒 1.5 years
🔧 Worked on Titan, Armada, QX56. Styling-to-closure execution
alignment
🔹 Technical Leader
🏢
General Motors – Toluca
🕒 13+ years
🏆 President's Award – Corvette Door Trim
🚀 Led design, launch support, appearance issue resolution, and
mentoring
🔹
Body Design Lead
🏢
Nissan – Toluca
🕒 3+ years
📐 Tiida & Sentra body components
📊 Coached junior engineers, material cost reduction strategies
✅ Deep OEM Insight
✅ Seamless collaboration across borders
✅ EV, AV, SUV, Luxury & Launch execution
✅ Fluent in technical bilingual environments (ENG/SPA)
I'm driven by
execution done right—
where form, function, and feasibility converge.
When I walk into a studio, I don't see a sketch.
I see material behavior, tooling limits, packaging tension.
What excites me is building that bridge between vision and reality.
And what satisfies me… is making it look effortless.
elias.vazala@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/elias-vazquez-technical-program-manager