Nissan Leaf manufacture confirmed for Sunderland

Fifth Gear  Friday 19 March 2010

Nissan will be building its new small electric car, the Leaf, at the company’s Sunderland plant.

Production of the Leaf will start in 2013, with a total of 50,000 units expected to make their way out of the factory each year. This, along with the 60,000 batteries the plant will be making for Nissan and Renault, will ensure the future of around 2,250 jobs at the plant and along the UK supply chain.

Nissan is pumping a total of £420m into the north England plant, which has been supported by a £20.7m grant from the UK Government. The plant becomes the third major global site for Leaf manufacture, joining factories in Japan and America.
The Leaf joins the Qashqai, Qashqai+2, the Note and the Micra on the Sunderland production line, with the new Juke crossover also due to be built at the plant.

The Leaf, which will be based on an all new platform, is powered by an 80Kw motor that should offer a real-world range of 100 miles and a top speed of 90mph.