Nissan Sunderland Plant future secured
Published: 16 November, 2016
Nissan has confirmed it will produce the next generation Qashqai and will add production of the next X-Trail model at its Sunderland Plant.
The company said its decision follows the U.K. Government’s commitment to ensure that the Sunderland plant remains competitive. The announcement means Nissan will now increase its investment in Sunderland, securing and sustaining the jobs of more than 7000 workers at the plant.
Carlos Ghosn, chairman and CEO of Nissa, commented: “I am pleased to announce that Nissan will continue to invest in Sunderland. Our employees there continue to make the plant a globally competitive powerhouse, producing high-quality, high-value products every day.
“The support and assurances of the U.K. Government enabled us to decide that the next-generation Qashqai and X-Trail will be produced at Sunderland. I welcome British Prime Minister Theresa May’s commitment to the automotive industry in Britain and to the development of an overall industrial strategy.”
Nissan’s Sunderland plant opened in 1986 and has produced almost 9 million cars since. One in three British cars are produced in Sunderland, which is the UK’s largest car plant of all time. In addition, 80% of production from Sunderland is exported to over 130 international markets. More than 2 million Qashqai’s have been built in Sunderland in less than 10 years. In addition to the 7000 direct employees at Sunderland, the plant supports a further 28,000 British automotive supply chain jobs. To date, Nissan has invested more than £3.7 billion in Sunderland.
Prime Minister Theresa May reacted by commenting: “Nissan is at the heart of this country’s strong automotive industry and so I welcome their decision to produce the Qashqai and a new model at their Sunderland plant.
“It is a recognition that the government is committed to creating and supporting the right conditions for the automotive industry so it continues to grow – now and in the future. This vote of confidence shows Britain is open for business and that we remain an outward-looking, world-leading nation.”
Production of the next Qashqai model is expected to begin in 2018 or 2019.
