A £50m investment deal has been confirmed between the Japan Automatic Transmission Company (JATCO), Nissan and the UK government for a new electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing facility in Sunderland.
The plant will be JATCO’s first UK and European site and will produce advanced 3-in-1 EV powertrains for Nissan’s nearby Sunderland facility.
The investment is expected to create 183 high-value jobs and support more than 400 roles in the supply chain.
Once operational in 2026, the plant aims to manufacture 340,000 powertrains annually, bolstering the UK’s domestic EV production and aligning with the government’s Plan for Change, which prioritises economic growth through sustainable technologies.
North East mayor Kim McGuinness said: “This announcement is a testament to the strength of the North East as a centre for advanced manufacturing and electric vehicles.”
The initiative forms part of a wider strategy to enhance the UK’s EV manufacturing capabilities, including previous investments such as Nissan’s £2bn commitment to the region and AESC’s battery manufacturing facility.
UK business and trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds described the deal as “a vote of confidence in the UK’s investment environment”, emphasising the region’s importance to the automotive sector.
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