Nissan has announced plans to spend more than £13bn on developing electric vehicles and says it will replicate the model of its Sunderland plant worldwide.
At a news conference in Japan the car manufacturer revealed it will develop 23 new electric models and will aim for half of its global output to be made up of electric vehicles by 2030.
Earlier this year it announced its EV360Zero system in Sunderland, bringing together a new battery plant and locally sourced green energy to power production, and the firm said it will expand the concept in other markets around the world.
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Nissan said it will spend two trillion yen, around £13.2bn, on electric vehicles over the next five years.
Chief executive Makoto Uchida said: “The role of companies to address societal needs is increasingly heightened.
“With Nissan Ambition 2030, we will drive the new age of electrification, advance technologies to reduce carbon footprint and pursue new business opportunities.
“We want to transform Nissan to become a sustainable company that is truly needed by customers and society.”
Nissan has plans to bring in all-solid-state batteries by 2028, which will be one-third quicker to charge. It wants three-quarters of the cars it sells in Europe to be electric by 2026, though lower targets have been set for Japan, China and the US.
It also intends to create around 3,000 jobs around the world in advanced research and development, as well as continuing to improve the skills of its current workforce.
Chief operating officer Ashwani Gupta Ashwani Gupta stressed the importance of the Sunderland plant for their plans.
He said: “Europe will take the lead on electrification around the world for Nissan. In Europe, Sunderland is the one which will take the lead towards electrification.”
He said it was not only leading in electric vehicle production, but also battery manufacture and green power with its EV36zero build hub, the concept it announced with Government support in the summer.
Mr Gupta said: “Sunderland is the leader, in collaboration with the Government, suppliers, dealers and most importantly, our employees.”
