Skip advert
Advertisement

New Nissan Qashqai production begins in Sunderland

Nissan will offer every school child in the North East of England a place on the Nissan Skills Foundation course to mark 35 years of manufacturing in Sunderland

Nissan Qashqai - front static

Nissan has started production of the new, third-generation Qashqai family SUV at its UK manufacturing facility in Sunderland. 

The Qashqai has been a record-breaking sales hit - no other car is made in the United Kingdom in greater numbers. A staggering 3.5 million have been signed off at Nissan’s Sunderland factory since the introduction of the first Qashqai in 2007. 

The factory has received a £400 million investment in preparation for the third-generation model. Among the new facilities and machinery is a £52 million panel press to create the largely aluminium body of the new car, along with 117 new robots to ensure that quality and safety targets are met. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

Elsewhere on the production line, four new robots have been installed to apply sound deadening to boost refinement levels, and the assembly process for chassis and suspension parts has been revised to accommodate the Qashqai’s new platform. 

To mark the commencement of production of the new model, Nissan is looking to introduce more young people to the automotive industry, by offering every school child in the North East a place on the Nissan Skills Foundation. 

Qashqai rear

Nissan says that 65,000 children have taken part in the initiative since launch in 2014, which involves an array of activities designed to engage young people with car manufacturing. Alan Johnson, Nissan’s Vice President for UK manufacturing, said: “We know it has been a tough year for young people, so we’re using the launch of this next-generation car to step up our efforts to inspire the next generation of manufacturing talent.” 

The new Qashqai is on sale now with a smattering of new kit, including Nissan’s ProPilot semi-autonomous driving system, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a hybrid powertrain. Prices start at £23,535 with the first cars to be delivered this summer.

What does the new Nissan Qashqai have to beat? These are the best mid-size SUVs on sale right now...

Skip advert
Advertisement

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025
New Volkswagen ID.3 Match 2025 review: attractive price boosts EV’s appeal
Volkswagen ID.3 Pure Match - front

New Volkswagen ID.3 Match 2025 review: attractive price boosts EV’s appeal

The value-focused Volkswagen ID.3 Match performs well and is easy to live with
Road tests
28 Apr 2025