New Qashqai to be built in Britain

By Jack Rix

08th June 2011

Britain's highest-volume car, the Qashqai, is staying in the UK! After a meeting with the Prime Minister, David Cameron, Nissan's CEO Carlos Ghosn has announced that the next-generation of the hugely successful crossover will be designed, engineered and built in the UK.

The news provides a massive boost for the British car industry, safeguards around 6,000 jobs in the supply chain and secures a £192 million investment from Nissan.

The first stage of development will see the new car styled at Nissan’s European Design Centre in Paddington, London. Once the design is finalised, engineers from the Nissan Technical Centre Europe in Cranfield, Bedfordshire will take hold of the project. The completed car will be built in the company’s Sunderland manufacturing facility.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: “This investment from Nissan is fantastic news and a great demonstration of the strength and vitality of the UK car industry. That future manufacturing and R&D has been secured is a tribute to the skill, expertise and hard work of Nissan’s UK workforce."

In addition, Nissan is also investing £420m in Sunderland plant for the production of the 100% electric Nissan LEAF from 2013 and in a new facility to make lithium-ion batteries for both Renault and Nissan vehicles from 2012.