Nissan has unveiled the third-generation Leaf, its flagship electric vehicle, which will be built in the UK at the company’s Sunderland plant as part of a major push towards sustainable, UK-based EV production.
The updated Leaf will offer up to 375 miles (604km) of range on a single charge, and customers will be able to place orders later this year, the Japanese manufacturer confirmed. The car will be powered by batteries produced by AESC UK, Nissan’s long-standing battery partner whose facility sits adjacent to the Wearside assembly plant.
The launch marks a milestone for the EV36Zero project—Nissan’s blueprint for EV manufacturing and sustainability—which will bring the new Leaf to market with a focus on reducing emissions across the entire supply chain.
The Sunderland facility, which currently produces the Juke and Qashqai models, employs more than 6,000 people and has been at the centre of Nissan’s UK operations for nearly four decades. The factory first began building the Leaf in 2013, making it the first mass-produced electric vehicle to be manufactured in Britain.
“It’s with immense pride that we unveil the third generation of our pioneering electric Leaf, 12 years after we brought EV and battery manufacturing to the UK,” said Alan Johnson, senior vice president of manufacturing and supply chain management at Nissan Motor Manufacturing.
“It’s a testament to the skill of our world-class team that we can bring into mass production a vehicle with such advanced technology and aerodynamic design.”
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