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Nissan to make LEAF electric car in UK
Japanese carmaker Nissan Motor plans to produce its new LEAF electric car at a plant in Sunderland, UK. The firm is investing GBP420m (USD640m) to manufacture electric cars and lithium-ion batteries in the country. The UK government is providing a GBP20.7m (USD31.5m) grant and the European Investment Bank up to GBP197m (USD301m) to support the development. Nissan's Sunderland plant opened in 1984 and the investment is expected to maintain around 2,250 jobs at the firm and across the UK supply chain.
The plant will begin operating in early 2013 and have an initial production capacity of approximately 50,000 units. The LEAF is a five-seater hatchback which provides an electric driving range of 100 miles per charge. The firm claims the battery will be able to recharge to 80% of capacity in less than 30 minutes. Production of the LEAF will begin in Japan later this year, followed by Tennessee, USA in 2012.
Nissan will commence construction of its Sunderland-based battery manufacturing plant next month. The facility, which will have an annual production capacity of 60,000 units, is scheduled for completion in 2012, when it will supply Nissan and alliance partner Renault.
In December, Nissan signed a deal with UK regional development agency One North East to develop a regional network of charging points and provide a range of incentives for early adopters such as free charging and dedicated lanes for electric cars.
