New contracts awarded as demand for Nissans increases
May 9 2009 by Paul James, The Journal
Trevor Mann of Nissan
“It’s also a great vote of confidence in the North East that it’s the Sunderland plant that’s benefiting from this.
“What we want to see is moves which will help secure a bright long-term future for the industry as well, and steps to look into the development of electric cars in the North East will be a boost to this.”
Last Saturday, The Journal revealed that Nissan, which has axed 1,200 jobs at the plant in the last six months as worldwide sales plunged 50%, said weekend working would also begin as demand improved.
The scrappage scheme is expected to start on May 18 and run until August 2010 or until the Treasury’s £300m fund for the scheme is exhausted.
One North East chief executive, Alan Clarke, who chairs the Nissan Response Group, which was set up after the 1,200 job losses were announced, said: “This is welcome news and a further sign of the resilience of Nissan at a tough time for the automotive sector.”
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said: “It is good news that Nissan is recruiting. We know this is a difficult time for the industry but this shows that the support that governments are offering is already having an effect.
“When I visited the Sunderland plant they told me that scrappage would be a good way of helping.
“Nissan in the UK is already benefiting from European scrappage schemes and the UK’s own scheme launching on May 18 will give a further boost to the industry.”
