2 min read - 5 Jun, 2026
Nissan closes in on production deal with China’s Chery International
Nissan and Chery International UK have signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore the production of Chery passenger vehicles at Nissan’s Sunderland plant.
Under the terms of the non-binding MoU, the Sunderland facility would remain fully owned by Nissan, with the team at the plant employed by Nissan. The MoU includes the possibility that Nissan would begin manufacturing Chery International UK passenger vehicles on the plant’s production Line One in 2027.
In May, Nissan announced that it would consolidate its manufacturing operations onto production Line Two to investigate opportunities to secure better plant utilisation.
The MoU is non-binding, and discussions are ongoing between the two companies, with no further details to be made public at this stage.
Nissan has entered into a non-binding MoU with Chery International UK to explore using its Sunderland facility to build Chery passenger vehicles / Picture: Nissan
Massimiliano Messina, chairperson of Nissan AMIEO, said: “This is an important step forward for our operations. We are looking forward to working with Chery International UK in the coming months to finalise a position that is optimal for both companies.”
Nissan employs around 7,000 people across the UK, including at its design centre in Paddington, and its R&D engineering centre in Cranfield, while Sunderland is home to the UK’s biggest single car plant, which builds two of the nation’s best-selling cars, the Juke and Qashqai.
These models were recently joined by the all-new 100% electric Micra, designed by the team in Paddington, as well as the European version of the new Leaf, which is now in production in Sunderland alongside the Qashqai and Juke as part of Nissan’s EV36Zero project.
EV36Zero is Nissan’s vision for the future of sustainable manufacturing: a blueprint that will transform its Sunderland plant into a flagship EV hub, bringing together electric vehicles, renewable energy and battery production.
