A groundbreaking new plant is set to be built at Nissan’s Sunderland site, which will produce powertrains for the next generation of electric vehicles, including successors to popular models such as the Leaf, Quashqai, and Juke. This new facility will be operated by Japan Automatic Transmission Company (JATCO), a firm majority owned by Nissan, which already produces transmissions for other car makers like Renault.
The project is expected to create 183 new jobs directly, with an additional 400 jobs being generated throughout the wider supply chain. The UK government has also pledged £50 million towards the investment deal, as part of a larger initiative to build a competitive electric vehicle supply chain in the country.
Trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds expressed his excitement about the project, stating that it will not only boost the auto industry but also help secure hundreds of jobs in the North East. This investment is a significant milestone for JATCO, as it marks their first plant in Europe and reflects a strong vote of confidence in the UK economy and the government’s investment plans.
In addition to the new powertrain plant, Nissan and its partners are already investing £2 billion in upgrading the Sunderland site as part of the EV36Zero project. This includes the construction of a second battery factory and a third gigafactory nearby, both of which will support the production of electric vehicles.
Alan Johnson, senior vice president of manufacturing, supply chain, and purchasing for Nissan, expressed his enthusiasm for the new plant, calling it a crucial step forward for the EV36Zero plan. He emphasized the importance of efficient supply chain management in achieving their electric future goals.
Tomoyoshi Sato, CEO of JATCO, also expressed gratitude for the support from the UK government and other stakeholders in establishing JATCO UK. He looks forward to supporting Nissan’s EV36Zero project with their electric powertrains.
The transformation of the Sunderland site will involve converting production lines to accommodate electric vehicles. The first car expected to be produced at the plant is the new Leaf, which is undergoing testing and is anticipated to begin production as early as March. The facility will also support the production of the electric-only Juke and Qashqai models in the future.
