Launch of new Nissan Leaf heralded as securing tens of thousands of jobs across Sunderland and North East
“This is a really big day for Nissan in Sunderland and bringing the Leaf back to our three model line-up, that secures the 6,000 jobs here at the plant well as the 30,000 more in the supply chain.”
The words of Nissan Vice President for Manufacturing Adam Pennick as the Sunderland plant today (December 16) officially launched production of its new third generation electric Leaf vehicle.
Adam was speaking to the Echo at the launch event in the Nissan manufacturing plant where he also spoke of his pride in seeing the new car start rolling off the production line and thanked all the team at the factory who had made it happen.
He said: “We are here today to celebrate production of our third generation electric Leaf, which is a really proud day. We’ve been building cars here for over 40 years, with 10 of those years electric vehicles.
“There is great pride here within the plant that the Leaf is now joining our Qashqai and Juke vehicles in our three model line-up.”
Nissan has invested £400 million to manufacture the new Leaf at its site in Sunderland.
The new Leaf is part of the company’s EV36Zero project which will see the car manufacturing giant use Nissan’s Sunderland headquarters as a hub to build three electric vehicles at three gigafactories as the company strives to become carbon neutral by 2030.
Adam added: “Today is really significant in terms of the Leaf being the first step in our EV36Zero vision and our path towards electrification. And today is the first part of that step with the launch of the Leaf.
“Next year (2026) we will see the electrification of the Juke. Today shows our true commitment to what we are delivering and celebrating with great pride in Sunderland.”
The launch of the Leaf and securing the jobs at Nissan has also been welcomed by the city and region’s leading political figures who were also at the event.
North East mayor Kim McGuinness said: “This is a huge vote of confidence in electric vehicle manufacturing in our region - we are leading the way on this.
“As well as the 6,000 jobs here at Nissan, there are thousands more in the supply chain, which is why we are investing in electric vehicle manufacturing in the region.
“What this move towards electrification of vehicles really means is jobs. Thousands of jobs for young people growing up who may have had relatives working at Nissan. They need to know there is a real future in this and so as we make this transition towards electric vehicles and green energy, there are so many opportunities.
“25,000 people work in these areas in our region and we are planning to double that in the next 10 years. Nissan is a big part of that.”
It was a sentiment shared by the leader of Sunderland City Council, Cllr Michael Mordey who said: “Today cements Nissan’s legacy in Sunderland. To have this new model built here is a real vote of confidence in the plant and in the city and region.
“Having this vote of confidence from Nissan will secure thousands of jobs and keep them in the city going forward.
“We have a target for the city to be carbon neutral by 2040 and so a reduction in carbon emissions by the Nissan fleet will help us to achieve this goal.”
Washington MP Sharon Hodgson added: “It’s very exciting to be here today for this launch event. This is such an important moment for Nissan UK and the city of Sunderland.”
The new Leaf is the third generation of the model, which was first launched in the UK in 2011. The car will have a range of up to 375 miles on a single charge.
It is eligible for the full £3,750 purchase discount under the Government’s electric car grant.
Also at the launch event was the Government’s minister for industry, MP Chris McDonald who said: “The launch of the new Nissan Leaf is an early Christmas present for Sunderland.
“The car industry is symptomatic of the health of the whole economy and what is good for Nissan is good for Sunderland and good for the UK. Nissan Sunderland recently celebrated its 40th anniversary in the city and in 40 years time hopefully we are celebrating another four decades of its success in the city.”
According to Nissan’s chair for the Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania (AMIEO) region, Massimiliano Messina, the car manufacturing giant contributes £2bn annually to the UK’s economy.
The launch of the new Nissan Leaf will be welcome news to the Sunderland plant’s 6,000 strong workforce. In May (2025) the company confirmed it would be reducing its international workforce by around 19,000 employees and reducing its number of global plants from 17 to 10 by 2027.