Nissan’s UK output above 500,000 for third year running

Growing demand for Nissan’s 100% electric Nissan LEAF and the continuing success of Qashqai, Europe’s leading crossover, saw the company’s Sunderland plant produce more than 500,000 units for the third year running.

500,237 cars were built in Nissan’s UK plant in 2014 thanks in part to growing demand for Nissan’s 100% electric LEAF.

Electric vehicle production at Sunderland doubled in 2014 with over 17,000 built. Production at the UK battery plant increased further, as the facility also started supplying units for use in the all-electric e-NV200 van, built at Nissan’s Barcelona plant.

Kevin Fitzpatrick, Nissan’s vice president for manufacturing in the UK, said: “Launching the new Qashqai last January was key to the matching our volumes of the previous two years. Increasing demand for the 100% LEAF also played a significant part.

“We are now looking ahead for the company and the launch of Infiniti production in Sunderland. The plant’s reputation for productivity and quality is driven by our workforce and I would like to thank and congratulate them all on another productive year.”

2014 was another record year for the plant. After less than eight years the Nissan Qashqai production passed two million units in 2014 in record time.

Designed, engineered and built in the UK, the Qashqai reached its milestone quicker than any other model in the history of the UK car industry. One in five cars built in the UK is a Qashqai.

Nissan’s productive offensive continued with the addition of DIG-S engine to the Note line up in February and a revised new Juke going into production in June.

The year ended with the launch of the Juke Nismo RS boasting 218PS, the latest Nissan motorsports model to be built at the plant.

The second half of 2015 will see production of the Infiniti Q30 begin, which will become the first new car brand to be manufactured in the UK on this scale in 23 years.

As the UK’s largest car manufacturing plant for 17 years, Nissan’s Sunderland plant is recruiting for Production Management positions. To find out more, click here.