2 minute read - 19th December 2022
Nissan marks 250,000th LEAF production milestone
Nissan has celebrated the production of its 250,000th LEAF electric car at its Sunderland plant.
Built in Sunderland for more than a decade, the LEAF was the world’s first mass-market electric vehicle. In 2022, new versions of the Qashqai and Juke joined the company’s electrified lineup. The Nissan Qashqai is now offered with Nissan’s e-POWER system, a first for the company in Europe, while its B-segment stablemate, the Nissan Juke, is now equipped with an advanced hybrid powertrain.
Last year, Nissan’s Sunderland plant was announced as the home of EV36ZERO, a £1bn flagship electric vehicle manufacturing ecosystem bringing together electric vehicles, renewable energy and battery production.
Nissan has hit a production milestone with 250,000 LEAF electric cars manufactured at its plant in Sunderland / Picture: Nissan GB
To celebrate the latest production milestone, a LEAF is providing the sparkle for Nissan Sunderland plant’s Christmas display, demonstrating its ability to act as a mobile power plant. The lights on a 32-foot Christmas tree and its shimmering reindeer are being powered by the vehicle’s battery, using V2X technology.
Alan Johnson, vice president of manufacturing at Nissan Sunderland Plant, said: “Passing a quarter of a million Nissan LEAF is a tremendous milestone, and demonstrates the electric vehicle manufacturing expertise we have built up at our plant over the past decade. This year, we have completely electrified the plant’s lineup with the new versions of Qashqai and Juke launched, so lighting up the Christmas tree with our original EV is a spectacular and appropriate way to end 2022.”
The Nissan LEAF’s vehicle-to-grid capability – sometimes called vehicle-to-building or vehicle-to-everything (V2X) – puts energy management back in the hands of the owner by turning their vehicle into a mobile energy hub. Drivers can store electricity in their vehicle’s battery and feed it to the grid, their building, or their Christmas tree, when needed.
The plant is currently recruiting for various positions. Those interested in a career at Nissan, can find out more information here.
To celebrate the milestone, a Nissan LEAF is providing the sparkle for Nissan Sunderland plant’s Christmas display / Picture: Nissan GB