Vote of confidence for Sunderland factory as Nissan announce new Leaf car will be built on Wearside
Bosses at the car giant said the decision was a "testament to the skill of our world-class team". The third generation model will also run on batteries produced in the city, after the creation of Britain's biggest gigafactory next to the car plant.
It will go on sale later this year, with a range of up to 375 miles on a single charge.
The new version of the Leaf is the first model to be launched under Nissan's blueprint for electric vehicle production, engineered at its research and development centre in Cranfield, Bedfordshire.
Alan Johnson, senior vice president of manufacturing and supply chain management at Nissan Motor Manufacturing, said: 'It's with immense pride that we unveil the third-generation of our pioneering electric Leaf, 12 years after we brought EV and battery manufacturing to the UK.
'It's a testament to the skill of our world-class team that we can bring into mass production a vehicle with such advanced technology and aerodynamic design.'
James Taylor, managing director of Nissan GB, said: 'Leaf is a pioneering electric vehicle that has encouraged thousands to make the switch to electric motoring – and best of all, it's built here in Britain.'
Nissan's new fully electric Micra, designed in London, will go on sale later this year, and the company will launch a smaller city car in 2026.
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