Nissan plans to invest USD 1.4 billion or the equivalent of IDR 21.7 trillion to provide an electric version of the Qashqai model and the smaller Juke crossover vehicle.
In addition, the funds will support greater investment in infrastructure and supply chain projects, including the construction of a new gigafactory for electric vehicle batteries at the Sunderland, UK factory.
The Qashqai and Juke were ranked second and seventh as the most popular vehicles in the UK this year.
“Nissan’s investment is a form of massive confidence in the British automotive industry,” said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, as reported by Japannews, Monday (27/11/2023).
In 2021, the company plans production of electric vehicles and batteries in Sunderland, with supplier AESC owned by China’s Envision, which will now open a third gigafactory at the site.
Nissan President and CEO, Makoto Uchida, stated that electric vehicles are at the heart of the company’s plans to achieve carbon neutrality, with the launch of electric versions of its core European models, accelerating towards a new era for Nissan.
Nissan targets to make its entire range of European passenger cars electric by 2030.
Many electric vehicle manufacturers face difficulties meeting battery production requirements in Europe, but Nissan, it is claimed, is still able to compete because it has a dedicated battery factory nearby.
Nissan joins other carmakers switching to electric vehicle production in the UK, despite the UK Government delaying the timeline for stopping sales of new petrol and diesel cars until 2035.