Nissan LEAF to be produced in the UK

Nissan has announced that the plant in Sunderland, in the United Kingdom, will start producing the Nissan LEAF from 2013. This announcement reinforces Nissan’s intentions to become the world leading brand in terms of zero-emission vehicles.

The Japanese make also said that in April, the works should start in the construction of the new advanced lithium-ion battery plant, which will produce 60.000 units a year for both Renault and Nissan, starting in 2012.

The construction of the plant, together with the production of Nissan Leaf and the batteries, represents a total investment of 468.2 million euros in the Sunderland Plant, with the investment being supported by the Grant for Business Investment (GBI) from the UK Government and a proposed finance package from the European Investment Bank. This will also secure the jobs of about 2,250 workers of Nissan and across the UK supply chain.

"This investment is a fantastic vote of confidence in the Sunderland plant and its excellent workforce. The automotive sector is of key importance to the UK. It supports R&D, technological innovation, skills and a supply chain that's a mainstay of the wider manufacturing sector, said the UK's Business Secretary Lord Mandelson.

The Sunderland plant will become the third location in which the Nissan LEAF will be produced. The production will start in Oppama, Japan later this year and will be followed by Smyrna, Tennessee, USA in 2012. The initial annual production of 50.000 units Sunderland will get underway in Sunderland in 2013.

The sales launch of the first global mass produced electric vehicle will start in Japan later this year, with the LEAF coming to the United States and selected European markets, ahead of global mass marketing from 2012.