Nissan is expected to reveal on Friday (24 November) that its forthcoming electric Juke and Qashqai crossovers will be built at its Sunderland plant as it pushes ahead with plans to go 100% EV in Europe by 2030.

The report from Sky News says the commitment comes on the back of months of talks with the Government over support for the project.

The move would safeguard thousands of jobs, bringing a major boost for the local area and wider UK economy.

Nissan’s Sunderland plant was officially opened back in 1986 by former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Nissan president Yutaka Kumet. Built on the former site of Sunderland Airfield, it’s produced iconic models such as the Nissan Bluebird.

Its future had been in question under Brexit, which saw Nissan axe plans to move X-Trail production there.

However, in July 2021, the Japanese automotive giant announced plans to transform the site into a flagship Electric Vehicle Hub under a £1bn scheme funded by investment by Nissan alongside battery tech firm Envision AESC and Sunderland City Council.

Dubbed Nissan EV36Zero, the scheme brings together three interconnected initiatives, covering electric vehicles, renewable energy and battery production. The latter takes the form of new gigafactory, being built next to the plant by Envision AESC, which already owns and operates the existing battery plant in Sunderland, which produces packs for the Nissan Leaf electric family car built there since 2012.

The alleged plans to build the electric Juke and Qashqai at Sunderland come as the Government pledges over £2bn to support the manufacturing, supply chain and development of zero emission vehicles. Announced last week – and now confirmed in the Autumn Statement – the funding is part of an overall £4.5bn package for strategic manufacturing sectors.

Speaking last week as the government funding was announced, Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch said: “The UK is a global hub for advanced manufacturing, with world-leading automotive, aerospace and maritime sectors. This package builds on recent investment wins, such as the £4bn gigafactory, and the £600m invested to build the next generation of electric Minis, and ensures that the Government can continue to help create jobs, grow the economy, and secure the future of great British manufacturing.”

In this week’s Autumn Statement speech, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said the government funding for zero-emission investments in the automotive sector had been “warmly welcomed by Nissan and Toyota”.

While the Government recently pushed the 2030 ICE ban back five years, Nissan has since said it’s committed to going all-electric in Europe by 2030, stopping sales of combustion-engined cars by the end of the decade.

From this date, the carmaker will only sell fully electric models in the UK and across Europe, saying it’s the “right thing to do”.

And all new Nissans launched in Europe will be fully electric from now – described by the Japanese manufacturer as the “ultimate mobility solution”.

Nissan also revealed a raft of fun and futuristic EV concepts at the Japan Mobility Show in October.

The quintet included a high-performance supercar concept, along with a crossover for content creators, an urban crossover, a rugged sports SUV for outdoor enthusiasts and a people carrier with fully autonomous driving technology.

Commenting on the concept cars, Nissan president and CEO Makoto Uchida said: “The EVs symbolise our future of creating a cleaner, safer, and more inclusive world for everybody without compromising on passions and dreams. Through the power of innovation, Nissan is creating a future where everyone can enjoy the excitement of mobility.”