Nissan to shut production line in Sunderland as part of 'decisive action' - Job cuts unclear

Nissan has confirmed that it will be closing one of its production lines at its historic Sunderland plant as part of a major restructuring across the brand.

A spokesperson for the Japanese brand told GB News that it would "consolidate production from two lines to one" at the Sunderland plant.

It stated that these changes were taking place as "we assess future opportunities to secure full plant utilisation".

Reports also suggest that Nissan will cut around 10 per cent of its European workforce, which is estimated to be around 900 jobs across the continent. It is unclear whether this will impact workers in Sunderland.

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The changes to the Sunderland factory are taking place as part of the brand's Re:Nissan recovery strategy.

The plan is designed to boost the company's business performance and "reposition Nissan for long-term success".

Nissan's spokesperson said: "We have been taking decisive actions to enhance performance and create a leaner, more resilient business that adapts quickly to market changes."

It confirmed that it had opened discussions with its European employees in a bid to simplify structures and reduce complexity.

This new approach aims to ensure that Nissan operates in a sustainable and profitable way after posting financial losses over the last year.

Discussions have taken place to partially close its Spanish warehouse in Barcelona, and to move to an importer model for its Nordic markets.

The Sunderland facility was recently transformed with £450million in funding to begin electric vehicle production on Line Two.

The all-new, all-electric Nissan Leaf will be produced in Sunderland as it embarks on its EV36Zero vision.

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Nissan also plans to produce batteries for its Leaf models at the new Gigafactory next to the plant in the North East of England.

Around 6,000 employees are situated at the Sunderland facility, making Nissan the largest employer in the region.

As part of the £450million transformation, more than 360,000 hours of training took place across the 6,000-strong workforce to build the new car.

The third-generation Leaf, which has a battery range of up to 386 miles and rapid charging capabilities, began production in December last year.

Speaking at the time, Adam Pennick, vice president of manufacturing at Nissan's Sunderland Plant, said: "Nissan has invested into our state-of-the-art plant to build the EVs of the future and there is huge pride and excitement in our team to be building this brilliant car in Sunderland.

"The skills, expertise and teamwork of our people have powered Sunderland's success, and the transformation of our plant for new Leaf demonstrates our leadership in the journey to electrification."

The factory now contains 137 new press dies, 78 high-tech robots in the Body Shop and 475 new automated guided vehicles to deliver parts directly to Line Two.

Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle described Sunderland as the "beating heart of the UK's automotive industry" and said that the £450million investment was a "huge vote of confidence" in the economy.

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