Nissan builds one millionth Qashqai at Sunderland
The Sunderland plant reached the one-million Qashqai milestone on 28 June 2011, just four and a half years after production began, setting a UK industry record.
Nissan’s Sunderland plant produced its one millionth Qashqai on 28 June 2011, just four years, six months and 23 days after the first car rolled off the line in December 2006. No other UK-built car had reached the million mark in so short a time, underlining the Qashqai’s impact on the British and European car markets.
The landmark vehicle, a silver 2.0-litre diesel TEKNA, was set aside for display at The O2 Arena in London before being offered as a competition prize. Nissan said details of the competition would be announced later. The Qashqai’s rapid production run has cemented its position as one of the most successful British-built cars, with more than 80 per cent of units exported to 97 markets worldwide.
Fastest UK-built car to reach a million
The Sunderland plant began Qashqai production on 5 December 2006. The millionth car arrived after just over four and a half years, outpacing previous Sunderland-built models. For comparison, the Micra reached 2.3 million units over 18 years, and the Primera hit 1.4 million in 17 years. The Qashqai’s surge was fuelled by strong demand across Europe, especially in the UK, Italy, Germany, Spain and France.
Production at Sunderland ramped up quickly. In June 2008, the plant added a third shift on Line 1 to keep up with demand, moving to round-the-clock operation. Although the extra shift was suspended in January 2009 during the global financial crisis, it was reinstated in May 2010 as demand recovered. By mid-2011, the factory was producing 1,200 Qashqais per day, or one every minute the line was running.
Impact on jobs and investment
The Qashqai’s success has been central to Nissan’s UK operations. In June 2011, Nissan confirmed that the next-generation Qashqai would also be designed, engineered and built in the UK, with the project involving the Sunderland plant, the design centre in Paddington and the technical centre in Cranfield. This commitment took Nissan’s total UK investment in the Qashqai past £422 million and safeguarded around 6,000 jobs at Nissan and in the UK supply chain.
The Qashqai’s production involves 3,779 parts, with over 80 per cent sourced from 224 UK suppliers. The model’s export success has contributed to the UK’s reputation for productive and high-quality car manufacturing. The Sunderland plant also produced the Note and Juke, and was preparing to add the electric Leaf from 2013, supported by new investment in battery production facilities.
Market performance and recognition
By the 2010 fiscal year, the Qashqai was the fourth best-selling model in Europe’s C-segment and firmly established as a UK Top 10 best-seller. Its blend of hatchback practicality and crossover styling was credited with creating a new market segment, prompting rivals to follow suit. The car also earned accolades for reliability, including four consecutive top rankings from Germany’s ADAC breakdown organisation.
- Micra: 2.3 million units (1992–2010)
- Primera: 1.4 million units (1990–2007)
- Qashqai: 1 million units (Dec 2006–June 2011)
With the millionth Qashqai milestone, Nissan’s Sunderland plant reinforced its status as a key player in both the UK and European automotive sectors. The Qashqai’s ongoing popularity ensured its future development and production would remain in Britain.
