Nissan creates 400 jobs as vehicle sales rise

Jan 29 2010 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

SOARING vehicle sales have created 400 temporary jobs at car giant Nissan and sparked hopes the squeeze on car-makers is starting to ease.

Rocketing demand for the Qashqai has prompted manufacturing bosses to open up a new production shift at their Sunderland plant.

Four hundred new fixed-term manufacturing posts have been announced, with company bosses holding talks in March about the chance of making these permanent.

The move will secure the positions of an existing 160 temporary members of staff as a nightshift is introduced. It is anticipated manufacturers across the supply chain will reap the benefits of increased production in the North East.

Trevor Mann, Nissan senior vice president for manufacturing in Europe, said: “Qashqai continues to buck the trend of a generally depressed market, and we have identified the need for an additional shift to cover a high volume request in the first half of the 2010 financial year.