Nissan accelerates the transition to full electrification

Nissan is continuing its vision of a zero-emission future by confirming that all three models built at its UK factory will be 100% electric.

Today's announcement means that the EV36Zero hub in Sunderland, Nissan's production project of the future, will consist of three electric vehicles (EVs), three gigafactories and an investment of up to £3 billion (GBP) - great news for Nissan's 7,000 UK employees and 30,000 jobs indirectly supported in the UK.

The project includes future all-electric versions of Nissan's flagship Qashqai and Juke. With today's announcement, Nissan has confirmed that the third vehicle planned for production in the UK will also be the next generation of the Nissan LEAF, the car that dared to spark the automaker's electrification drive.

Both vehicle and battery manufacturing will be powered by the EV36Zero Microgrid, which will incorporate Nissan's wind and solar farms and will have the capacity to provide 100% of renewable electricity to Nissan and its neighboring suppliers.

Announcing the plans today to colleagues at the Sunderland plant, Nissan President and CEO Makoto Uchida said: "Exciting, electric vehicles are at the heart of our plans to achieve carbon neutrality. With the upcoming electric versions of our highly successful European models, we are accelerating towards a new era for Nissan, for the industry and for our customers.

"The EV36Zero project puts our Sunderland plant, Britain's largest car factory, at the heart of our future vision. It means our UK team will design, develop and build the vehicles of the future, leading us to an all-electric future for Nissan in Europe."

Today's announcement follows Nissan's confirmation that all of its new cars in Europe will now be fully electric and that it expects its passenger car range in Europe to be 100% electric by 2030. It also builds on Nissan's Ambition 2030 vision to become a truly sustainable company, leading towards a cleaner, safer and more inclusive world.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: "Nissan's investment is a huge vote of confidence in the UK car industry, which already contributes a massive £71 billion a year to our economy. This venture will undoubtedly secure Sunderland's future as the UK's Silicon Valley for innovation and electric vehicle manufacturing.

"Making the UK the best place to do business is at the heart of our economic plan. We will continue to support businesses like Nissan to expand and grow their UK operations as we make the right long-term decisions for a brighter future."

 

THREE NEW ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Nissan's latest investment includes up to £1.12 billion in its UK operations and wider supply chain for the R&D and manufacturing of the two new models announced today, including improvements to production facilities and processes, training and related activities. It follows on from the £423 million investment Nissan announced in the first phase of the EV36Zero for the first future EV.

These three new electric vehicles represent the future for all three models currently being built at the Nissan Sunderland plant:

• Nissan Qashqai - the original crossover, the best-selling car in the UK for 2022 and accounting for one in five of all cars made in the UK.
• Nissan JUKE - the rule-breaking compact crossover that has sold more than a million units.
• Nissan LEAF - the world's first mass-produced EV, of which more than 250,000 have been built in Sunderland.

The three future models will be inspired by three exciting all-electric prototype models, two of which were recently unveiled at the Japan Mobility Show:

• The Nissan Hyper Urban Concept, a crossover EV featuring sleek and modern aesthetics.
• The Nissan Hyper Punk Concept, an all-electric compact crossover with an exterior aesthetic defined by multi-sided and polygonal surfaces.
• The Nissan Chill-Out Concept, unveiled in 2021 and previously confirmed as the inspiration for a future EV to be built in Sunderland.

More information about the three models, including names, specifications and release dates, will be announced later.

 

EV36ZERO

Today's news builds on Nissan and its partners' initial £1 billion investment to create the EV36Zero, transforming its Sunderland manufacturing facility and creating a global EV manufacturing ecosystem.

Complementing vehicle and battery generation, the Microgrid project, initiated by Sunderland City Council, will have the potential to provide 100% of renewable electricity to Nissan and its neighbouring suppliers, integrating existing wind and solar farms, including Nissan's brand new 20 MW solar farm.

The two new models, together with an additional gigafactory and further investment in infrastructure projects, will mean an investment of up to £2 billion. This means that Nissan's plans for future electric versions of the Qashqai, Juke and the replacement LEAF will bring an investment of up to £3 billion to the UK.

In addition, the UK Government has provided £15 million of funding for a £30 million collaborative project led by Nissan. This project will strengthen expertise and R&D on zero-emission vehicles at the Nissan Technical Centre (NTCE) in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, increasing opportunities to secure additional R&D investment for future vehicle models.

Today's announcement coincides with the confirmation of a new Investment Zone (IZ) for the North East of England. The North East Investment Zone will focus on Advanced Manufacturing and Green Industries, building on the Arc of Innovation running from Northumberland through to Sunderland and Durham with opportunities along the Tyne corridor and benefits felt across the wider region.

UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said: "Nissan has a proud history of building cars in Sunderland and its continued commitment to the UK shows how our support for business is delivering results - helping to create thousands of jobs and consolidate Britain's position as the 8th largest manufacturer in the world."

UK Business Minister Kemi Badenoch said: "Nissan's investment in Sunderland shows once again that the Government's plan for the automotive sector is working.

"The upcoming Advanced Manufacturing Plan will build on this deal and other recent major investment moves for the UK automotive industry, helping to support thousands of jobs and growth in the UK."

Cllr Graeme Miller, Leader of Sunderland City Council, said: "Today's announcement is fantastic news for Sunderland and the UK. We are building on our leading automotive and advanced manufacturing capabilities, creating high quality jobs, increasing our contribution to low carbon emissions and further positioning us at the heart of electrification on the world stage. It is a huge vote of confidence for the city and the region - and our people - that Nissan has again chosen to invest here.

"The strength of our partnership with companies like these along with our ability to work with government is essential to the continued success of the industry. The Investment Zone announced today means we can build on our track record by attracting further investment of this scale."

The EV36Zero is a key part of Nissan Ambition 2030, the company's long-term vision to become a truly sustainable company, leading to a cleaner, safer and more inclusive world. In this period, Nissan will deliver exciting, electrified vehicles and technological innovations while expanding and transforming its operations globally. The vision supports Nissan's goal to be carbon neutral throughout the lifecycle of its products by fiscal year 2050.