Japanese giant Nissan today handed a further boost to its Sunderland plant with the confirmation that it’s zero emission all-electric Leaf will be built in the North East.
The Leaf will join Nissan’s all new mini-SUV, the Juke, on the production lines when Micra manufacture moves to India.
A new battery production facility will also be built in Sunderland, which will see Nissan invest almost £420 million pounds in the plant.
The Leaf begins production in Japan later this year, with the first UK built cars expected in 2013. Around 50,000 cars per year with built in the UK factory. Andy Palmer, senior vice president at Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. said: “The world is at the dawn of a new era in automotive transport. Nissan Leaf, which will go on sale later this year, is a five-seater hatchback that offers the same space, practicality and performance of a similar car in its class – minus the tailpipe emissions.”
