invest north east england

Thursday 18th March

Responding to news that the Nissan LEAF will be manufactured at the company’s Sunderland plant, Margaret Fay, Chairman of One North East, said: “Margaret Fay, Chairman of One North East, said: "We are absolutely thrilled at this latest investment by Nissan at its Sunderland factory.

"Today's announcement comes almost a year to the day since Nissan and One North East signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore the development of zero-emission mobility.

"Twelve months on, we have reached a position where this partnership has elevated the North East of England, and the UK, to the world-leading position we now enjoy in the low carbon vehicle industry. The support that we have received from the Government in that time has been critical to our joint success.

"The Nissan LEAF will arrive in the region as we are installing 1,300 charging points to give motorists the confidence they need to make the switch to electric vehicles. The region is a world-leading investment location and is becoming a global model for the low carbon economy."

Rt Hon Nick Brown MP, Minister for the North East, said: “"Winning the battery factory for Sunderland was a great achievement. We have now built on this by today's truly exciting announcement.

“It means hundreds of new jobs, underpins the existing jobs at both the battery factory and car plant, and gives us a brand new product which I'm sure will be a world leader. This is tremendous news for Sunderland, East Durham and the North East of England."

Councillor Paul Watson, Leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “This is fantastic news for Sunderland and the North East.

“With its legendary productivity, Nissan’s Sunderland plant has already proved itself many times over, and it’s really exciting to see it leading on electric vehicle technology and green collar jobs.

“The decision to build the Leaf in Sunderland secures the city’s place at the heart of the growing low carbon economy. It also embeds Nissan further in the local economy at the same time as securing the future of the plant. “

One North East is the Regional Development Agency for North East England and is delivering the UK’s Low Carbon Economic Area for Ultra Low Carbon Vehicles, which covers areas of Sunderland, South Tyneside and East Durham and will include:

• The National Training Centre for Sustainable Manufacturing
• The National Low Carbon Vehicle Research and Development Centre.
• An open access test track to trial the use of new technologies.
• The Turbine Business Park.
• One North East is studying the feasibility of partially reopening the Leamside rail line to freight, linking the LCEA to the Port of Tyne.

For further information on this release or about the development of low carbon vehicles in North East England, contact Paul James, PR Specialist Advisor at One North East, on Tel 0191 229 6429, Mob 07795 267126 or email paul.james@onenortheast.co.uk