Nissan export milestone celebrated

Since production began in 1986, more than 4.1 million cars have rolled off the line and some three-quarters have been exported to more than 45 markets around the world. Nissan has been the biggest exporter of cars from the UK for the last six consecutive years. The plant has recently added the new NOTE model to its portfolio. The compact family car began production in January, with already more than 18,000 units produced. Nissan is targeting annual sales of around 90,000 units – 80 per cent for export. The NOTE joins the Micra, Micra C+C (launched in November 2005), Almera and Primera as the fifth model being built at Sunderland. From December 2006, an all-new crossover vehicle, based on the Qashqai concept (pictured), will also be produced at the factory. The introduction of the new crossover will complete one of the busiest periods in the Sunderland plant’s 22-year history. By December, the 4,400-strong workforce will have achieved three new product launches in just 16 months. Representing over £221 million of direct investment at the plant, the new models will give Sunderland the potential - depending on market conditions - to produce around 400,000 units a year by 2007. In 2005, the plant produced 315,000 units. Since 1984 £2.3 billion has been invested in the plant since.