Automotive
More than 150 automotive companies are found in North East England. They employ about 18,000 people.
One in every five cars produced in the UK is made in the region by Nissan, Europe’s most productive car plant for the last eight years.
The Institute of Automotive and Manufacturing Advanced Practice at Sunderland University is recognised worldwide. Its research includes materials and structural analysis, manufacturing systems and ergonomics.
Durham University’s Centre for Automotive Research has expertise in vehicle aerodynamics and hybrid vehicles. Northumbria University’s Design School contributes to the industrial design of automotive products.
There is a range of specialised industrial support. This includes the NEPA programme which looks at lean manufacturing systems; the Regional Centre for Manufacturing Excellence; the Automotive Academy; and the Automotive Centre of Excellence.
The Nissan factory, established at Sunderland in 1984, has been Europe’s most efficient car plant for over eight years. The company’s total investment in the region has been around £2.1bn. This has included preparations for the new compact car, codenamed P32L, which was due to go into production in December 2006. Teams from One NorthEast have worked closely with Nissan and its supply companies over the years to ensure its continued presence in North East England.
Automotive Fact Sheet [pdf]
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