Nissan to confirm plans for a huge battery ‘gigafactory’ in Sunderland

Nissan will today unveil plans for a huge factory in Sunderland to make batteries for electric cars.

The Japanese firm already makes the Leaf vehicle at the plant, which opened in 1986, but this would be a significant expansion. 

It is thought to be looking at producing 200,000 batteries per year.

On the charge: Nissan is set to unveil plans to build a battery ‘gigafactory’ at its plant in Sunderland where it currently produces the Leaf electric vehicle (pictured)

And other models including the Qashqai and Juke may be produced in Sunderland, say reports.

The ‘gigafactory’ would be the first in the UK by a major car maker. Britishvolt, a start-up backed by Emirati and Scandinavian investors, is separately plotting a £2.6billion facility in Blyth, Northumberland, that would produce 300,000 batteries a year.

The factories will be crucial to plans to phase out the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2030, with the Government seeking to encourage similar proposals from other companies.

Bosses at Nissan have reportedly agreed the plans after assurances of support from the Government.

It is thought the plant could open in 2024, creating thousands of jobs. Nissan said Sunderland has ‘played a pioneering role in developing the electric vehicle market’. 

It said: ‘We will continue to electrify our line-up as part of our global journey towards carbon neutrality.’