Sunderland City Council has welcomed Nissan’s announcement of a £170m investment to bring a fourth model to its Sunderland plant, describing it as a major vote of confidence in the city, its workforce and the future of automotive manufacturing in the UK.
Nissan has announced that production of the hybrid Kicks e-POWER model will join the Leaf, Juke and Qashqai at its Sunderland plant, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.
The investment further strengthens Sunderland’s position as the UK’s leading automotive manufacturing location, with more than one in three cars made in the UK now produced in the city. This success is supported by a highly skilled workforce and an advanced manufacturing supply chain that is continuing its transition to electrified vehicle production.
Councillor Christopher Eynon, Leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “This is fantastic news for Sunderland and a powerful vote of confidence in our city’s world-leading automotive manufacturing sector.
“As Nissan celebrates 40 years in Sunderland, the decision to bring production of the Kicks model to Europe and manufacture it here reflects the exceptional skill, quality and productivity of our workforce.
“Nissan has been a valued partner for decades, and we remain committed to working together to ensure Sunderland continues to lead the way in electrification, innovation and the future success of the UK automotive industry.”
The announcement is another significant milestone in Sunderland’s long-standing partnership with Nissan and reinforces the city’s role at the centre of the UK’s transition to electric vehicle manufacturing. The move will support jobs, strengthen the regional supply chain and help secure the future of advanced manufacturing in the North East.
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness also welcomed the investment, describing it as a significant endorsement of both the region’s automotive industry and its electric vehicle future.
Kim McGuinness said: “Nissan bringing the Kicks to Sunderland is a £170m vote of confidence in North East car making and the people who work in our industry.
“We’ve backed our automotive sector to switch to electric through the Made initiative and our £50m EV transition fund and it is paying off with four models on the books at Nissan now. That’s good news for North East workers, our economy and North East jobs.”
The North East Mayoral Strategic Authority continues to support the transition to electric vehicles through a range of initiatives, including a £50m EV transition fund for the automotive supply chain, investment in charging infrastructure and funding to expand the region’s zero-emission bus fleet.
Adam Pennick, Vice President of Manufacturing, Nissan Sunderland Plant, said: “I’m proud to welcome this new model allocation for Sunderland. It’s the perfect way to celebrate our 40th year as a world-class manufacturing site. We look forward to seeing Kicks e‑POWER hybrid going down the production line with our electrified line up of Qashqai, Juke and LEAF.”