Nissan Leaf manufacture confirmed for Sunderland

As Autoblog revealed yesterday, Nissan will be building its new small electric car, the Leaf, at the company's Sunderland plant.

Production of the Leaf will start in 2013, with a total of 50,000 units expected to make their way out of the factory each year. This, along with the 60,000 batteries the plant will be making for Nissan and Renault, will ensure the future of around 2,250 jobs at the plant and along the UK supply chain.

Nissan is pumping a total of £420m into the north England plant, which has been supported by a £20.7m grant from the UK Government. The plant becomes the third major global site for Leaf manufacture, joining factories in Japan and America.