Nissan to build new hybrid SUV at Sunderland with £170 million investment
Nissan will invest £170 million to assemble the Kicks e-POWER hybrid small SUV at its Sunderland plant, Britain's largest car factory.
Nissan has announced it will manufacture a new hybrid small SUV for the European market at its Sunderland facility, committing £170 million ($229 million) to the project. The vehicle, the Kicks e-POWER hybrid, will be built alongside the Qashqai, Juke and electric Leaf models at the plant, though the company did not disclose when production would begin.
The decision comes as Nissan undergoes a broader restructuring aimed at reducing costs, which has involved closing plants, cutting jobs and cancelling some planned models, including an electric version of the Qashqai. The future of Sunderland, Britain's largest car assembly plant, had been the subject of concern.
In June, Nissan said it was considering renting out one of the two production lines at Sunderland to Chinese automaker Chery, which has been expanding rapidly. Later that month, it emerged that the British government was in advanced discussions with Nissan about financial support in exchange for a long-term commitment and investment in the site.
Britain's business minister, Jonathan Reynolds, described the decision to build the new model in Sunderland as a significant endorsement of the country's manufacturing capabilities and the future of its automotive industry.