Expected strong demand for planned updated versions of Nissan’s successful Qashqai crossover will see a temporary third (night) shift re-instated at its plant in Sunderland, north-east England, next May.
“Throughout 2009 the plant has been working hard to satisfy orders on two shifts, but sales of the popular crossover have now reached levels where demand is out-stripping supply,” the automaker said in a statement, adding that “an extensively updated version” would go on sale across Europe in March.
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“Although the market will dictate how long the nightshift remains in operation, it is expected to be maintained for around six months,” Nissan said.
It will next month begin hiring 400 new fixed-term workers for the plant and retain an existing 160 temporary staff. It expects the move will add jobs in the supply chain as well.
Nissan launched the Qashqai – sold as the Dualis in some markets – in 2007 and there were, at times, waiting lists as long as six months for some versions. Some production was moved to Japan and China for local markets while the automaker added a temporary nightshift at Sunderland in June 2008 to satisfy demand but axed the shift a year ago after sales fell due to the global economic crisis.
Nissan expects to sell over 200,000 Qashqai sales in Europe in the current financial year to the end of March, it’s the brand’s best-selling model.
Nissan’s European manufacturing chief, Trevor Mann, said: “Qashqai continues to buck the trend of a generally depressed market, and we have now identified the need for an additional shift to cover a high volume request in the first half of the 2010 financial year.
“Doing so will allow us to get cars to our customers more quickly and also provide the significant increase to production needed to fill the delivery pipeline to our European dealer network.”
The automaker has now sold over 500,000 Qashqais in Europe and the model accounted for 60% of Sunderland’s 2009 production volume of 338,000 cars.
The plant was this week recognised as the UK’s largest car producer for the 12th year running.
Nissan added a seven-seat Qashqai to the line last year and the refreshed 2010 model will have a new front end, LED rear lights new exterior colours and a new low-CO2 ‘Pure Drive’ diesel engine option emitting just 129g/km of CO2.
The updated Qashqai will be followed next autumn by the sales launch of the all-new Juke crossover, which will also be produced in Sunderland.
Based on the Qazana concept, the Juke, like the Qashqai, will offer buyers another alternative to the conventional hatchback but in a smaller package.
The Juke will be unveiled to global media on 10 February ahead of its public debut at the Geneva motor show in March.
News of the temporary Nissan jobs boost came as Toyota said its UK manufacturing plant in Derby – home to the European version of the Corolla, the Auris and the Avensis would cut 750 jobs by the end of August, despite plans to put a hybrid Auris into production soon.
