Nissan to retain 'significant presence' across UK despite job fears and Sunderland plant changes

Nissan will remain in the UK and continue to manufacture vehicles in Sunderland, a spokesperson has told GB News, following concerns around the automaker's recovery strategy.

A spokesperson for the iconic Japanese brand has spoken to GB News about the future of the company in the UK and its crucial manufacturing base in Sunderland.

Nissan is one of the largest employers in the automotive sector in the UK across three unique sites, with the brand first opening its Sunderland facility in 1986.

Recent data shows that Nissan produces the highest number of vehicles of any manufacturer in the UK, with more than 282,000 vehicles created in 2024.

Of these, the Nissan Qashqai was produced at the highest volume, with 175,000 models and 102,000 Nissan Juke models rolling off production lines.

However, in recent years, the popular brand has dealt with financial issues, prompting the Re:Nissan recovery plan, which it described as an "action-driven" mission.

It stated that it was looking to reduce headcount at some locations across Europe to simplify structures, while also proposing changes in Spain and its Nordic markets.

Nissan confirmed that its Sunderland factory would be affected by the consolidation of production from two lines to one.

It added that it would "assess future opportunities to secure full plant utilisation".

Nissan recently announced that it would also scrap original plans to localise production of the 3-in-1 electric vehicle powertrain alongside its partner Jatco in Sunderland.

Despite this, a spokesperson for the Japanese manufacturer told GB News that it was committed to the UK, including its Sunderland factory.

They said: "Nissan maintains a significant presence in the UK, spanning design in Paddington, research and engineering in Cranfield, and manufacturing in Sunderland.

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"These operations directly employ more than 6,000 people and support an estimated 35,000 supply chain jobs.

“The Sunderland plant produces market-leading vehicles, including the Qashqai and Juke - two of the UK's best-selling cars - and recently started production of the third-generation Leaf."

It also confirmed that it would "continue to invest in UK manufacturing" ahead of further product launches in the coming years.

The brand will next look to expand its UK production with the all-electric Nissan Juke in 2027, as it takes a "flexible path" towards full electrification.

Since its launch in 2010, the Juke has quickly become one of the brand's best-selling models across Europe, with more than 1.5 million sales.

The manufacturer said it would release further details about the Juke in the coming months, describing it as a "bold evolution of Nissan's iconic compact crossover".

Nissan continues to have a strong foothold in the UK in terms of sales, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

So far this year, it has sold 28,389 new vehicles, capturing more than three per cent of the market, while the Nissan Qashqai is the fourth-best-selling model on the market, making up more than half of the brand's total sales.