Nissan has reaffirmed its commitment to a zero-emission future, announcing that all three models manufactured at its UK plant in Sunderland will transition to being 100% electric. This commitment aligns with the EV36Zero hub, Nissan’s comprehensive blueprint for future manufacturing, which includes three electric vehicles (EVs), three gigafactories, and an investment of up to £3 billion.
The EV36Zero hub in Sunderland, a collaboration with Envision AESC and Sunderland City Council, is set to include future all-electric versions of Nissan’s popular Qashqai and JUKE crossovers. In addition to these models, Nissan confirms that the third vehicle planned for UK production will be the next-generation Nissan LEAF, a pivotal electric car that played a significant role in sparking the electrification trend in the automotive industry.
The transformation also extends to the power source, as both vehicle and battery manufacturing will be powered by the EV36Zero Microgrid. This Microgrid, which incorporates wind and solar farms at Nissan, is designed to deliver 100% renewable electricity to Nissan and its neighboring suppliers.
Makoto Uchida, President and CEO of Nissan, stated, “The EV36Zero project puts our Sunderland plant, Britain’s biggest ever car factory, at the heart of our future vision. It means our UK team will be designing, engineering, and manufacturing the vehicles of the future, driving us towards an all-electric future for Nissan in Europe.”
The announcement follows Nissan’s recent commitment that all its new cars in Europe will be fully electric, with the expectation that its entire passenger car lineup in Europe will be 100% electric by 2030. This move aligns with Nissan’s broader Ambition 2030 vision to become a truly sustainable company, contributing to a cleaner, safer, and more inclusive world.
Nissan’s investment includes up to £1.12 billion in its UK operations and supply chain for research and development (R&D) and manufacturing of the newly announced electric models. This substantial investment is a testament to Nissan’s commitment to driving innovation and sustainability in the automotive industry.
The three new electric vehicles represent the evolution of the current models manufactured in the Sunderland plant, namely the Nissan Qashqai, Nissan JUKE, and Nissan LEAF. The transition to electric power aligns with Nissan’s ambitious goal to be carbon neutral across the lifecycle of its products by the fiscal year 2050.
The EV36Zero project, with its comprehensive approach to electric vehicle manufacturing and renewable energy integration, positions Nissan as a key player in shaping the future of sustainable mobility. The commitment to producing fully electric models in the UK underscores Nissan’s dedication to advancing the electric vehicle ecosystem and addressing environmental challenges in the automotive sector.