New Nissan creates 500 UK jobs

THE NEW NISSAN Qashqai starts coming off the production line today, which has helped create 500 new jobs at the Japanese car giant's UK plant in the coming months.

The second generation Qashqai will be built in Sunderland, where the workforce is set to increase to over 7,000 for the first time.

Around 286,000 Qashqai cars were built last year, with production numbers expected to be similar in 2014.

The car is Nissan's best-selling model in Europe.

Nissan's chief performance officer Trevor Mann said: "The Nissan Qashqai blazed a trail when we started production in 2006. It invented the Crossover segment, propelled the Nissan brand in Europe to a new level and helped our plant in Sunderland to set new standards in productivity and quality.

"The new Qashqai, with its bold design and segment-leading technology, will once again elevate Nissan to a new level, as the benchmark for the second generation of Crossovers and our flagship model in Europe."

Prime Minister David Cameron said: "It's great news that the new model Qashqai is rolling off the production line in Sunderland. Nissan supports 40,000 jobs across the UK, and when you add that to the half a billion pound investment that Nissan have made in this country for this new model, it shows how our long term plan is giving companies the confidence to invest and create jobs in Britain."

The new Nissan Qashqai is built on Sunderland's Line 1, which has been running on 24-hour operations since 2010 to meet demand, and where the 100% electric Nissan Leaf is also made.

Nissan builds two other models at the plant - the Note and the Juke.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "The British car industry is thriving - car exports last year brought in £30 billion for our economy - and I welcome Nissan's contribution in delivering this success.

"We want to build on this. That is why we are working together with business to give companies like Nissan the confidence to invest, delivering skilled jobs, driving growth and building a stronger economy."

By Press Association reporters