Member Article

Sunderland ?strong contender? to produce electric vehicles for Europe

Lord Mandelson has paid a visit to Sunderland’s Nissan factory, where the company announced the region would host one of two sites producing batteries for electric cars.

The governments of the UK and Portugal are giving financial support to ensure that Nissan will locate one site in each of their respective countries.

Nissan says this is the first “significant” step towards producing batteries for its Zero Emission Mobility Programme in Europe.

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said: “The North East has distinguished itself as the first specialised region for ultra-low carbon vehicles.

“That is good news not just for the North East, but for the whole of the UK, helping to attract foreign investment and securing the UK’s place as a global leader in high-tech manufacturing and automotive industries.”

The two plants are expected to produce 60,000 Lithium-ion batteries each, with electric vehicles being marketed globally in 2012.

One North East help

Nissan’s Senior Vice President for Manufacturing in Europe, Trevor Mann, said: “In March Nissan and One North East signed a Memorandum of Understanding committing both partners to explore fully the North East’s potential to spearhead the UK’s drive towards zero emission mobility.

“Since then a great deal of work has been going on at both the local and national level to promote and facilitate the introduction of electric vehicles within the region.”

PM Gordon Brown said: “Sunderland could now be a strong contender to produce electric vehicles for Nissan in Europe, and we will continue to work with Nissan to ensure this happens.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .