On Friday, Nissan (7201.T) said that it will invest 1.12 billion pounds ($1.4 billion) to produce electric versions of two popular crossover models at its factory in the United Kingdom. This news is a fresh boost for Britain’s automotive sector amid the transition to electric cars.
The Japanese automobile manufacturer has stated that to realize its intentions for developing electric versions of the Qashqai and the Juke, which are both now manufactured at the Sunderland plant, it will be necessary to invest up to 2 billion pounds in a third battery facility in the UK as well as infrastructural improvements.
Nissan did not offer any more clarification or information on such investments. Japan’s third-largest automobile manufacturer stated that it would reveal the names of the new electric vehicle models and the start dates for manufacturing later.
“With electric versions of our core European models on the way, we are accelerating towards a new era for Nissan,” Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida said in a statement. “With electric versions of our core European models on the way.”
Sunderland has been the location of Nissan’s Leaf electric vehicle production for many years, which will not change.
In addition, the car manufacturer revealed plans to invest $1.4 billion in 2021 to construct a second battery facility in Sunderland with a nine gigawatt-hour (GWh) capacity in collaboration with the Chinese company Envision AESC. The car manufacturer already has a modest battery facility in the United Kingdom that supplies the Leaf.
The investment was referred to as “a massive vote of confidence in the UK’s automotive industry” by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak.
“Making the UK the best place to do business is at the heart of our economic plan,” said the Prime Minister. By 2030, Nissan intends to sell solely electric vehicles in the European market.
Nissan has increased its objectives for electric vehicle models as it plays catch-up in a market dominated by newcomers like Tesla (TSLA). Earlier this year, Nissan said it would launch 19 new EV vehicles by 2030.
The news that Nissan will produce electric vehicles comes just a few months after Tata Motors (TAMO.NS) of India stated that it will invest 4 billion pounds in an electric vehicle battery facility in the United Kingdom to supply its Jaguar Land Rover facilities.
Sector analysts had previously regarded the Tata battery facility as a solid step; nonetheless, they contend that Britain requires significantly more electric vehicle battery production capacity to retain a viable and expanding auto sector.
Comment Template