Nissan LEAF brings festive charge to Sunderland

A landmark moment for the North East automotive sector is being celebrated in the heart of Sunderland with an eye-catching seasonal showcase.

A brand-new Nissan LEAF, one of the first next-generation electric vehicles produced in Sunderland, powered a giant Christmas tree in Keel Square, marking a milestone week for the carmaker’s Wearside plant.

The electric vehicle also visited the Stadium of Light to power its Christmas tree before heading to Riverside Sunderland, where it used vehicle-to-grid technology to power the festive display during a busy pre-Christmas weekend for shoppers and visitors.

Lee Watson, production director at Nissan’s Sunderland plant, said: “We are always proud to see our Sunderland-built cars out on the roads. 

“To have one bringing a bit of festive cheer to our home city is extra special.”

Large-scale production of the latest LEAF model began earlier this week at Nissan’s Sunderland factory. 

The new model, which will reach customers in March 2026, builds on the success of earlier generations, with more than 280,000 LEAFs already produced at the site.

Capable of travelling up to 375 miles on a single charge, the new LEAF forms part of Nissan’s EV36Zero vision, which aims to transform Sunderland into a flagship electric vehicle hub combining car production, battery manufacturing and renewable energy, supported by long-standing collaboration with Sunderland City Council.

Councillor Michael Mordey, leader of Sunderland City Council, added: “It’s fantastic to see the LEAF spreading some festive cheer across the city by powering focal points like the Christmas tree in Keel Square following its time at the Stadium of Light. 

“But, of course, the thing that delights me most is knowing that the production of the all-new LEAF at the Sunderland plant sustains many thousands of jobs in and around Sunderland over the coming months and years, which is something we can be rightly proud of.

“Nissan has such a huge impact on this city, creating jobs and opportunities for so many people in communities across Sunderland and the North East as a whole, so it’s wonderful to celebrate the great news coming out of the plant here at the heart of our city centre at a time of year when community comes into special focus.”

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