More cheer for Nissan
July 29th, 2009 by Richard Aucock
NISSAN Sunderland has won a big new engine production contract, securing further jobs at the big plant.
A new 2.0-litre engine will be built there from next year, saving 130 jobs and, in time, creating an EXTRA 200 posts.
Nissan is to invest nearly £13 million in the new engine production facility – backed by nearly £2 million from regional development agency One North East.
This will see up to 65,000 2.0-litre engines made, which will be installed in the Qashqai and X-Trail.
Why Sunderland? Because Nissan wants to localise production close to key target markets, to save on logistics and reduce exchange rate risks.
All of which means the future of Sunderland is even more secure – for just the sort of high-profit, super-popular models, such as the Qashqai, that car dealers like so much.
Trevor Mann, Nissan senior vice president for manufacturing, said that ‘not only will this new business safeguard and create jobs at the plant, with more amongst our suppliers, it also positions us to bid strongly for future engine derivatives.’
That’s not all – with Nissan’s announcement last week that it will also locate a battery production facility at Sunderland, it really does seem as if the plant has a big future.
Sunderland to play a key role in Nissan’s model plans for the future? The signs get better by the day…
Tags: jobs, Nissan, sunderland
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