2 min read - 16 Sep, 2026
Nissan invests £170m to build new model in Sunderland
Nissan has announced plans to launch a new model in Europe and will invest £170m to build it at its plant in the UK, which this year celebrates its 40th anniversary.
The new Nissan Kicks—a compact (B-segment) crossover featuring Nissan’s e‑POWER hybrid technology—will make its European debut following successful global sales of over 1.8 million units across 70 countries. Currently built in Japan, Mexico and Brazil, the model will now be manufactured in Sunderland alongside the Qashqai, JUKE, and LEAF.
It becomes the tenth model to be built at Nissan’s Sunderland plant since 1986, and follows the Bluebird, Primera, Micra, Almera, Note, Infiniti Q30, JUKE, Qashqai and LEAF. From next year, Sunderland will also manufacture the all-new, third-generation Nissan JUKE, which, for the first time, will be 100% electric.
Nissan is investing £170m to build a new hybrid model at its plant in Sunderland, which this year celebrates its 40th anniversary / Picture: Nissan GB
e‑POWER – unique hybrid powertrain technology
Building on Sunderland’s expertise in producing e-POWER hybrid versions of the Qashqai, the new Kicks will serve customers across the UK, Europe and Turkey. Globally, over 1.9 million e-POWER models have been sold since 2016, including 200,000 Qashqai hybrids built in the UK.
Kicks will be equipped with a third-generation e-POWER system launched in 2025, re-engineered for improved fuel efficiency, lower emissions, and elevated refinement
Nissan’s e‑POWER hybrid technology is unique in that the wheels are driven solely by a powerful electric motor. The petrol engine is used only to generate electricity and recharge the on-board battery. This delivers the smooth, instant response of an EV alongside the familiar convenience of petrol refuelling.
Currently built in Japan, Mexico and Brazil, the new Nissan Kicks makes its European debut following sales exceeding 1.8 million units across 70 countries / Picture: Nissan GB
Massimiliano Messina, chairperson of Nissan AMIEO Region, said: “This is fantastic news for our European region and demonstrates the agility and speed with which we can bring new models to new markets. Electrification with choice is what European customers want, and the introduction of Kicks will further demonstrate how Nissan has options for all.”
40 years of manufacturing expertise in Sunderland
Over four decades, Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK (NMUK) has grown to become the UK’s largest single-site car manufacturing plant. It has been supported by £5bn of investment, and employs around 6,000 people directly and supports a further 30,000 jobs in the supply chain.
Since the first Nissan Bluebird rolled off the production line in 1986, Sunderland has built 12 million vehicles for more than 100 markets worldwide. On average, that’s equivalent to one car every 1 minute 45 seconds.
