Nissan says battery plant still on track
Dec 15 2009 by William Green, The Journal
A spokesman for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills said: “It is important to understand that the AAP is about long-term investment projects, rather than short-term rescue.
“We have to work at the pace demanded by the companies and also have to consider the best interests of the taxpayer.
“Following direct contact with over 90 companies, we are now working on detailed plans with some 10 companies as part of the AAP on projects worth around £2bn.”
The spokesman added: “As always, when taxpayers’ money is at stake, we must ensure that we are offering the right support to the right companies.
“As we’ve seen with Jaguar Land Rover, some companies are able to secure funding from other sources, which is good news for the industry and taxpayer.”
A Nissan spokeswoman said: “As far as we are concerned, our battery plant is still ongoing. We may or may not use money from the AAP. Discussions with the Government are ongoing.”
The spokeswoman also said that there was not yet any news about the car factory at Washington in Sunderland being chosen by Nissan to build electric vehicles.
The North East facility is competing for the work against Nissan plants in France and Spain.
It is hoped it will be the centre of a Low Carbon Economic Area in the North East, specialising in the production of environmentally-friendly vehicles.
