Nissan has confirmed that all 3 car models made in Sunderland will be 100% electric and it will also invest in a third gigafactory.
It stated that the EV36Zero hub in Sunderland – Nissan’s blueprint for future manufacturing – will consist of 3 electric vehicles, 3 gigafactories and up to £3bn investment
The project includes an all-electric version of its flagship Qashqai and JUKE crossovers and the next generation of its LEAF vehicle.
Both vehicle and battery manufacturing will be powered by the EV36Zero Microgrid, which will incorporate the wind and solar farms at Nissan and will have the capability to deliver 100% renewable electricity to Nissan and its neighbouring suppliers.
“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,” stated Nissan President and CEO Makoto Uchida.
“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.”
The new investment includes up to £1.2bn into its UK operations and wider supply chain for R&D and manufacturing of the 2 new models announced today, including facility and manufacturing process improvements, skills training, and tooling for suppliers.
Sunderland City Council’s Microgrid project will have the capability to deliver 100% renewable electricity to Nissan and its neighbouring suppliers, incorporating the existing Nissan wind and solar farms, including Nissan’s new 20MW solar farm.
Nissan stated that the additional 2 models, alongside an additional gigafactory and further investment for infrastructure projects, will result in an investment of up to £2bn.
It comes as a new Investment Zone (IZ) was confirmed for North East England. The North East Investment Zone will focus on Advanced Manufacturing and Green Industries, building on the Arc of Innovation running from Northumberland down to Sunderland and Durham with opportunities along the Tyne Corridor and benefits felt across the wider region.
“Today’s announcement from Nissan reinforces the company’s commitment to the North East, and signals a new future for car manufacturing in our region,” said Lucy Winskell OBE, Chair of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership.
“Not only will it protect thousands of existing jobs at its world leading manufacturing plant, it paves the way for more and better jobs as the company accelerates its transition to full electrification by 2030. Nissan’s commitment to manufacture future electric versions of the Qashqai, JUKE, and LEAF models follows a £1bn investment by Nissan and its partners to build a new electric vehicle hub – EV36Zero – which will create a world-first EV manufacturing ecosystem in Sunderland.
“The automotive sector in the North East, and the wider advanced manufacturing industry that supports it, is key to the future success of our region’s economy. Thanks to the adoption of new smart technology across the sector, we’re creating a workforce that is equipped with the skills needed for the jobs of the future. That’s helping to attract investment into the North East and position the region as one of the world’s leading hubs for green energy and advanced manufacturing.
“As a pioneer in electric vehicles, Nissan’s continued investment in the North East means we can capitalise on the huge economic opportunities provided by the transition to electrification. It also means as a region, we can play a leading role in government’s ambition to reach net zero by 2050.”
