Nissan starts new Leaf car production in flagship UK factory backing EVs and securing 6,000 jobs

Car giant Nissan has begun building the latest version of its Leaf electric vehicle at its Sunderland factory, marking the first new high-volume model to be produced in the UK since 2020.

The Japanese carmaker has invested more than £450million in the project, with over £300million going directly into its UK operations.

The Sunderland site employs around 6,000 people and is the largest car factory in the UK, with the move bringing back a model that helped lead the electric car revolution when it first arrived in the UK in 2011.

Nissan has built the Leaf in Sunderland since 2013, producing more than 280,000 vehicles before work began on the new generation.

Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle welcomed the announcement, labelling the move a major boost for the northeast.

He said Sunderland is "the beating heart of the UK's automotive industry" and described Nissan's investment as "a huge vote of confidence in our economy".

Industry Minister Chris McDonald also visited the plant to mark the start of production.

He said he was "delighted that Nissan is producing the new LEAF in Sunderland" and explained the move would "strengthen the UK's position as a global leader for manufacturing and as the destination of choice for investment".

Ministers said the Government had worked closely with Nissan and its partners to help turn the Sunderland site into a major hub for electric vehicle production, supporting jobs and economic growth in the region.

The new Leaf, now an electric SUV, offers a driving range of up to 375 miles on a single charge.

This makes it eligible for the full £3,750 discount under the Government's Electric Car Grant scheme.

Drivers who choose the top version with a 75kW battery can get up to 386 miles of range under official testing.

Using a rapid charger, the car can gain around 273 miles of range in just 30 minutes.

The batteries for the new Leaf are made just across the road at a newly opened AESC gigafactory, which has a capacity of 12 gigawatt hours.

Jim Marley, UK Plant Director at AESC, said: "The launch of our new UK electric vehicle battery gigafactory represents a significant leap in battery technology.

"It will power the new Nissan LEAF and drive the electrification of the British car industry to a new level."

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Motoring experts explained the decision to build the Leaf in the UK is important for British manufacturing.

Tom Jervis, consumer editor at Auto Express, said: "It's difficult to understate the importance of the Nissan Leaf being built in the UK."

He added that while much of the UK car production focuses on high-end vehicles, the Leaf is aimed at a mass market.

"The electric Leaf SUV seeks to enter the hottest sector in the industry right now and, having driven it ourselves, looks poised for strong sales," he said.

However, he warned that success "heavily relies on consumer perception and uptake of EVs" and urged the Government to stay "steadfast with the current trajectory" to protect the industry.

Inside the Sunderland plant, staff have completed more than 360,000 hours of training to prepare for the new model.

Adam Pennick, Nissan's Vice President of Manufacturing in Sunderland, said: "There is huge pride and excitement in our team to be building this brilliant car in Sunderland."

The launch follows growing political debate over the future of electric vehicles.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch detailed this week that her party would scrap plans to ban new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 if the Tories return to power.

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, she called electric vehicle targets "economic self-harm".

But Mayor Kim McGuinness for the northeast welcomed the start of production and announced £50million in new Government funding for the region's car industry, adding that the launch was "a landmark day for our car industry".

Ministers said the project forms part of a wider £4billion commitment to the automotive sector, described as the biggest investment in British car manufacturing since the post-war era.