Production at Nissan SunderlandJapan – Ending weeks of speculation, the company has announced that it will produce the next Qashqai at its UK factory and in addition, will add production of the next X-Trail model. This decision follows the UK government’s commitment to ensure that the Sunderland plant remains competitive as the country negotiates leaving the EU.

“I am pleased to announce that Nissan will continue to invest in Sunderland. Our employees there continue to make the plant a globally competitive powerhouse, producing high-quality, high-value products every day,” said Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and CEO of Nissan. “The support and assurances of the U.K. government enabled us to decide that the next-generation Qashqai and X-Trail will be produced at Sunderland…”

Opened in 1986 the plant directly employs 7,000 people and has produced almost 9m cars. Sunderland currently produces the Qashqai, Note and Juke and LEAF models.