News that Nissan will produce their electric car, the LEAF, in Sunderland was welcomed by the Business Secretary Lord Mandelson on 18 March 2010. The UK Government is to commit GBP20.7 million under the Grant for Business Investment scheme for both the production of the car and the new battery plant at Sunderland
News that Nissan will produce their electric car, the LEAF, in Sunderland was welcomed by the Business Secretary Lord Mandelson on 18 March 2010. The UK Government is to commit GBP20.7 million under the Grant for Business Investment scheme for both the production of the car and the new battery plant at Sunderland. This will support total investment of over GBP420 million by Nissan in their UK operations. Nissan has plans to make up to 50,000 vehicles and 60,000 batteries a year which will help to safeguard and create over 550 highly skilled jobs at the Sunderland plant. The Business Secretary announced the government investment for Nissan as one of the company\'s top executives demonstrated the advanced technology of the car at the Department\'s offices in London.
Earlier today the UK Government had also said it is to support Ford\'s GBP1.5 billion investment in creating a new generation of environmentally friendly engines. The Government will provide GBP380 million in loan guarantees towards six Ford projects through its Automotive Assistance Programme (AAP). Ford\'s plans will safeguard around 2.800 highly skilled jobs in the UK at its manufacturing plants in Dagenham, Southampton and Bridgend in south Wales as well as its research and development centre at Dunton in Essex.
UK Government support for Nissan and Ford follows last week\'s announcement of a 300 million Euros loan guarantee to General Motors Europe, helping to secure the company\'s operations in the UK at Ellesmere Port, Luton and Millbrook and the rest of Europe.
