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Nissan looks to manufacture electric cars in UK

Japanese carmaker Nissan has signed a deal with UK development agency One North East that could spell the manufacture of electric vehicles (EVs) in the northeast of the country.

The two signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Friday in the presence of Business Minister Lord Mandelson that commits them to a four-month development programme examining the feasibility of manufacturing electric vehicles in the region, which includes Nissan’s own plant in Sunderland.

Nissan and One North East will also work together to promote the use of zero-emission vehicles in region, through educations programmes and incentive schemes.

Although the agreement does not commit Nissan to start manufacturing in the region, it is a crucial first step.

“I am delighted that Nissan has recognised the potential of the North East in the development of a successful EV infrastructure,” says Margaret Fay, Chairman One North East.

“We have the political will, academic research, great engineering industry, but most importantly we are willing to invest in the infrastructure that enables companies to develop their vehicles to a scale that is not available anywhere else.”

Nissan has entered into a number of similar arrangements with other national and regional authorities around the world including Israel, Denmark, Portugal, Monaco, parts of the US and Japan. The Renault-Nissan Alliance is also working with Swiss electric utility company Energie Ouest Suisse (EOS).

“Nissan has made a clear commitment to lead the global automotive industry in the mass marketing of electric vehicles,” says Andy Palmer, of the company’s EV strategy group. “Today’s signing with One North East will advance the deployment of EVs worldwide.”

The company plans to launch EVs in Japan first, followed by the US next year and then the rest of the world from 2012.

For further information:
www.nissan-global.com/EN/index.html
www.onenortheast.co.uk/

23 March 2009

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