• UK to become third global manufacturing location for Nissan EVs
• Sunderland Leaf production to begin in early 2013
• Initial annual production capacity in Sunderland of about 50,000 units
• Lithium-ion battery production in Sunderland will supply both Nissan and Renault

Nissan has announced that the Nissan Leaf electric car will be manufactured at its plant in Sunderland, UK, from early 2013.

The Nissan Leaf - the first in a range of forthcoming Nissan electric vehicles (EVs) - is described by Nissan as the world’s first affordable, mass produced zero emission car.

Production of Nissan Leaf will begin in Oppama, Japan later this year followed by Smyrna, Tennessee, USA in 2012.

Sunderland will come on-line in early 2013 with an initial annual production capacity of about 50,000 units and the UK plant's output will be for the European region.

The three production sites will support the sales launch of the model, which begins in late 2010 in Japan, the United States and selected European markets, ahead of global mass marketing from 2012.

Nissan also said that construction in Sunderland of its advanced lithium-ion battery plant, announced last year, will begin this April. The battery facility will have a production capacity of 60,000 units a year and will start manufacturing batteries in 2012 for both Nissan and its Alliance partner Renault.

The production of Nissan Leaf and the batteries represents a total investment of more than GBP420m (EUR468.2m) in the Sunderland Plant and is expected to maintain about 2,250 jobs at Nissan and across the UK supply chain.

The investment will be supported by a GBP20.7m (EUR23.1m) Grant for Business Investment (GBI) from the UK Government and a proposed finance package from the European Investment Bank (EIB) of up to EUR220m (GBP197.3m).

The UK’s Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said: “This investment is a fantastic vote of confidence in the Sunderland plant and its excellent workforce. The automotive sector is of key importance to the UK. It supports R&D, technological innovation, skills and a supply chain that’s a mainstay of the wider manufacturing sector.

“Today’s news from Nissan, with support from government, shows that by working together we can achieve our aim of making the UK a world-leader in ultra-low carbon vehicles.”

Andy Palmer, senior vice president at Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., and responsible for the company's global EV strategy, said: “The world is at the dawn of a new era in automotive transport. Nissan Leaf, which will go on sale later this year, is a five-seater hatchback that offers the same space, practicality and performance of a similar car in its class – minus the tailpipe emissions."

“Thanks to the UK’s firm commitment to a low carbon future in terms of infrastructure, customer incentives and educational programmes, Nissan LEAF will be built at Sunderland, making the UK the third country in the world to produce this revolutionary car.”

Nissan and its Alliance partner Renault say they are committed to mass marketing pure electric vehicles on a global scale and together have announced production capacity of 500,000 units per year.

To date, the Alliance has entered into more than 50 partnerships worldwide with countries, cities, organisations and other key stakeholders to prepare the markets and infrastructure for the successful adoption of EVs around the world.

Work to integrate Nissan Leaf into Sunderland’s manufacturing process will begin in 2012. The car will be launched on the plant’s ‘Number 2’ production line alongside the recently unveiled Juke compact crossover car, which enters production in August 2010.

Nissan will continue to work in partnership with local and national government in preparation for the UK sales launch of Nissan Leaf in early 2011.

Last December, Nissan and Regional Development Agency One North East signed a definitive agreement on zero emission mobility. The agreement includes the development of a regional network of charging points, supply of Nissan Leaf to the region from early 2011 and a range of incentives for early adopters of EVs, such as a period of free charging and use of dedicated EV lanes.

 Guidance: there is no sound on this video clip, which includes Leaf driving footage, views of the interior and plug-in charge socket