Nissan launches 拢450m next-generation LEAF鈥痠n major vote of confidence in UK鈥檚 Industrial Strategy
Nissan have launched their next-generation LEAF in Sunderland, marking a major boost for the UK鈥檚 automotive industry.
- UK鈥檚 largest car plant transformed听with launch of new generation EV,听supporting 6,000听jobs听and听boosting economic growth.
- Industry Minister Chris McDonald听will visit听site听and hail听the听new LEAF听as major step forward for听the听auto sector鈥檚 EV transition听and听green听economy.
- Start of production听comes听as听government鈥檚 modern Industrial Strategy听is delivering 拢4 billion into听the听automotive听sector 鈥� the biggest investment into the car industry听since听the听post-war era.
In a huge听boost to听the UK economy听and听auto industry, car manufacturing giant Nissan has听begun听production听of听the听next generation LEAF in Sunderland听-听making it听the first new high volume electric car听to听be produced in the UK听since 2020.听
Nissan has invested听more than听拢450 million into听manufacturing听the new LEAF听at their Wearside plant听-听including听over听拢300 million directly into the firm鈥檚 UK operations听鈥� supporting 6,000听jobs and thousands more听in the supply chain.听
Today [16 December], Industry Minister Chris McDonald听will attend听the launch in Sunderland, where听he听will听hail the听start of production听as a major听boost听to听both听the听North East听and the听automotive听sector, a听step听which听underlines听the UK鈥檚 position听at the forefront of manufacturing听green听technologies. 听
This latest development builds on the biggest government investment into the UK鈥檚 car industry of the post-war era, with 拢4 billion of funding听from the modern Industrial Strategy听going towards accelerating the electrification of vehicle plants and investment in batteries, electric听motors听and power electronics.听
Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said:听
Sunderland is the beating heart of the UK鈥檚 automotive industry, and Nissan鈥檚 investment is a major commitment to鈥痶he听North East听and a huge vote of confidence in our economy.听
Through this government鈥檚 modern Industrial Strategy, we鈥檙e delivering 拢4 billion into our world leading auto sector - the biggest investment into the car industry since the post-war era - driving growth, innovation and jobs across the country.
Government has worked closely with Nissan and their partners to transform听Sunderland听into an听EV manufacturing听hub,听strengthening the听nation鈥檚听domestic EV manufacturing capabilities听and听boosting economic growth.听
Industry Minister Chris McDonald said:听
We鈥檙e proud of our historic鈥痗ar industry, so I鈥檓 delighted that Nissan is producing the new LEAF in Sunderland. This will strengthen the UK鈥檚 position as a global leader for manufacturing and as the destination of choice for investment.听
This government has taken decisive action to back the鈥痑utomotive鈥痵ector through our modern Industrial Strategy, securing new trade deals and creating export opportunities, supporting UK manufacturers to safeguard jobs and helping to secure the future of the鈥痵ector for decades to come.
Through the Industrial Strategy, the听government plans听to cluster EV manufacturing across growth areas. Along with the introduction of the new听LEAF, the government is announcing the launch of two new regional EV supply chain pilots in partnership with the听North East听and West Midlands Metro Mayors. 听
Implemented under DRIVE35, these programmes will strategically boost growth, enhance UK supply chain听resilience听and increase domestic听production听in the transition to zero emission technologies.听
Just over the road from the plant, AESC has听opened听a new听15.8 GWh听gigafactory听which will听supply batteries for听Nissan,听showcasing听the power of investment听in听boosting the supply听chain through new听jobs听and opportunities in the听region.听听
Adam Pennick, Vice President, Manufacturing, at Nissan Sunderland Plant said: 听
Nissan has invested into our听state-of-the-art听plant to build the EVs of the future and there听is听huge pride and excitement in our team to be building this brilliant car in Sunderland.听
The skills, expertise and听team-work听of our people have powered Sunderland鈥檚 success, and the transformation of our plant for new LEAF demonstrates our leadership in the journey to electrification.
Drivers can save 拢3,750 off the new Nissan LEAF thanks to the government鈥檚 Electric Car Grant which is putting thousands of pounds back in families鈥� pockets when they decide to make the switch. The scheme is backing the听UK鈥檚 automotive industry, a key sector identified in the听UK鈥檚 modern Industrial Strategy, which supports 133,000 jobs in the听UK, and a further 320,000 jobs in the wider economy.
This moment follows the government launching both the Industrial and Trade Strategies and securing three trade deals with the US,听India听and EU 鈥� supporting the auto sector by reducing tariffs and creating new export opportunities 鈥� whilst cementing the UK鈥檚 position as a top investment destination.听听
Notes to editors:听
- Through the government鈥檚 modern Industrial Strategy鈥檚听拢2.5 billion听DRIVE35 programme, an听additional听拢1.5 billion investment听was听announced in听the听Budget, bringing total capital support to an unprecedented 拢4 billion until 2035.
- The ECG was launched earlier this year and is making it cheaper and easier to own an electric vehicle, with over 40,000 people benefiting from the grant so far.