Renault-Nissan Alliance Begins Sunderland Battery Plant Construction
The £210m Sunderland facility will supply lithium-ion batteries for Nissan and Renault EVs from 2012, creating 200 jobs at the plant and 600 more in the UK supply chain.
Work has begun on the Renault-Nissan Alliance’s first European battery plant, a £210 million investment at Nissan’s Sunderland site that will supply lithium-ion batteries for both Nissan and Renault electric vehicles from early 2012. The 25,000 square metre facility is designed for an initial annual capacity of 60,000 battery units.
The groundbreaking ceremony was led by Nissan Motor Co. chief operating officer Toshiyuki Shiga. Nissan expects the new plant to create 200 direct jobs at Sunderland and support a further 600 in the wider UK supply chain. The project marks a major step for the Alliance’s European electric vehicle ambitions, with Sunderland joining a global network of battery production sites.
Supplying European Electric Vehicle Production
Once operational, the Sunderland plant will supply batteries for upcoming Nissan and Renault electric models, including the Nissan Leaf. Sunderland’s battery output is intended to support local assembly of the Leaf, which Nissan confirmed last month would be built at the same site. The plant will also feed batteries into Renault’s EV range. The Alliance’s strategy is to localise battery production close to vehicle assembly to reduce logistics costs and support local manufacturing jobs.
The Sunderland facility is the first of several battery plants planned by the Alliance in Europe. A second site is set for Cacia, Portugal, while Renault intends to produce batteries at its Flins plant in France. Nissan’s Oppama plant in Japan will begin Leaf production later this year, with the US Smyrna plant to follow in 2012. Sunderland’s battery output will therefore play a central role in supplying European-built Nissan and Renault EVs as the market develops.
Jobs and Supply Chain Impact
The battery plant is expected to directly employ 200 people at Nissan’s Sunderland site. An additional 600 jobs are anticipated in the UK supply chain, as battery production requires new suppliers and logistics partners. The project is designed to anchor electric vehicle manufacturing in the UK, with the government and local authorities supporting the investment as part of broader efforts to position the country as a centre for low-carbon automotive technology.
- 200 new jobs at Nissan Sunderland plant
- 600 supply chain jobs across the UK
The Sunderland battery plant is a key part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance’s European electric vehicle rollout. As battery production ramps up, the facility will supply both Nissan and Renault models, supporting the shift to electrification across the group’s brands. The investment in local battery manufacturing is expected to help secure future vehicle production and jobs in the region.
