Boss lets slip Nissan’s plans to build Leaf on Wearside

Aug 4 2009 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

NISSAN has come a step closer to securing thousands of North East jobs by signaling electric vehicle production is heading to Sunderland.

A senior company official revealed at the launch of the new Nissan Leaf that the will one day be built in Sunderland.

Noboru Tateishi, programme director for electric vehicles, said Nissan planned eventually to build the car in Sunderland.

The manufacturer has played down the claims, insisting no official decision has been made.

Over the last month the jobs campaign has won the support of Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Business Secretary Lord Mandelson, who travelled to Wearside to announce a £200m support package which will see the new car batteries built at the Washington plant.

Fraser Kemp, whose Houghton and Washington East constituency is home to much of the current workforce, welcomed the latest hint. He said: “Ultimately it is a business decision for Nissan but we are doing all we can to convince them this is the right place.

“Over the last few years there has been a huge effort made by the Government and the RDA to support Nissan’s low-carbon ambitions and that will continue until the final decision is made.

“The whole of the North East is behind this, and recognises that if they chose to come here it would play a hugely significant part in the low carbon industrial revolution we are working towards.