Nissan to produce new electric Qashqai and Juke models in Sunderland
Nissan will produce two new electric vehicle models at its Sunderland plant, supporting thousands of jobs in the UK, the government has confirmed.
The Japanese carmaker’s new electric Qashqai and Juke models will be manufactured at the site.
Nissan is making a “direct investment of up to £1.12 billion” to produce the two models, the government said.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Nissan’s investment is a massive vote of confidence in the UK’s automotive industry, which already contributes a massive £71 billion a year to our economy.
“This venture will no doubt secure Sunderland’s future as the UK’s Silicon Valley for electric vehicle innovation and manufacturing.
“Making the UK the best place to do business is at the heart of our economic plan.
“We will continue to back businesses like Nissan to expand and grow their roots in the UK every step of the way as we make the right long-term decisions for a brighter future.”
Nissan president and chief executive Makoto Uchida said: “Exciting, electric vehicles are at the heart of our plans to achieve carbon neutrality.
“With electric versions of our core European models on the way, we are accelerating towards a new era for Nissan, for industry and for our customers.
“The EV36Zero project puts our Sunderland plant, Britain’s biggest ever car factory, at the heart of our future vision.
“It means our UK team will be designing, engineering and manufacturing the vehicles of the future, driving us towards an all-electric future for Nissan in Europe.”
What is the Government investing in Sunderland?
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, who is in Sunderland for the announcement, said the Government is investing £15m in research and development.
He said: "That matters, because for Nissan to be successful they've got to have the most technologically developed EVs anywhere and we want that to happen in the UK."
The chancellor refused to be drawn on whether additional funding had been given to Nissan.
As part of the announcement, AESC, a Japan-based global leader in electric vehicle battery innovation, is set to collaborate with Nissan in the development of its electric vehicle platforms. The company has initiated a feasibility study to explore potential further gigafactory investments in the UK.
Lei Zhang, AESC chairman said: “In order to meet increasing battery demand from Nissan, AESC, renowned for its expertise in high performance batteries, has embarked on a strategic feasibility study focused on the potential expansion of our gigafactory operations in Sunderland.
"This initiative, which underscores our enduring partnership with Nissan, is a testament to AESC’s commitment to fostering innovation and propelling sustainable automotive solutions in the UK."
John McCabe, chief executive at the North East Chamber of Commerce, said: "The announcement of the production of new electric models at Nissan’s Sunderland plant is fantastic news for the North East.
“As the only carmaker in the country with a dedicated battery plant on-site, Nissan is perfectly positioned to place the region and the wider UK at the front of electric vehicle production and green innovation.
“This transformative project will create more skilled, higher-paid jobs and safeguard hundreds of jobs in the region, and will provide a significant boost to the North East’s economy.
“Investments such as this really highlight the North East’s huge potential, with thriving regional supply chains and availability of renewable energy sources, and we look forward to working with Nissan to provide support for the project."
Also welcoming the news, Sunderland Central's Labour MP Julie Elliott said: “The decision by Nissan today is a great vote of confidence in the Sunderland plant."
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