Nissan to Invest £170m in New Hybrid SUV at Sunderland Plant, Contingent on EV Mandate Change
Carmaker says production of the Kicks model depends on the UK loosening rules requiring rising sales of electric vehicles

Nissan has announced plans to invest £170m to build a new hybrid SUV, the Kicks, at its factory in Sunderland, according to the Guardian. The company said the investment is contingent on the UK government weakening its electric vehicle sales mandate.
The Sunderland plant, which employs 6,000 people in Tyneside, is Britain's biggest car factory. The Guardian reported that the proposed investment represents Nissan's latest attempt to secure the plant's future.
The UK's electric vehicle sales mandate currently requires manufacturers to sell a rising proportion of electric vehicles each year. Nissan's announcement links the Kicks investment to changes in this policy, though the Guardian report did not specify further details on the exact nature of the requested changes or a timeline for the decision.
The Kicks would be a hybrid model, according to the report. Further details on production timelines, additional investment terms, or government response to Nissan's conditions were not included in the available reporting.
Sources
- Sunderland gets its Kicks: Nissan to invest £170m to build new hybrid SUV — The Guardian — Business
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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