Nissan opens £1-B electric vehicle hub in UK

MANILA: Nissan has officially opened the EV36Zero, its £1-billion flagship electric vehicle (EV) hub that creates the world’s first EV manufacturing ecosystem.

Centered on the record-breaking plant in Sunderland, United Kingdom, Nissan EV36Zero will boost the company’s initiatives to maintain carbon neutrality and develop a new 360-degree solution for zero-emission mobility.

The project was initiated with a £1-billion investment by Nissan, Envision AESC, and Sunderland City Council. Nissan EV36Zero aims to bring together EVs, renewable energy, and battery production to set a blueprint for the future of the automotive industry.

“This project comes as part of Nissan's pioneering efforts to achieve carbon neutrality throughout the entire lifecycle of our products. Our comprehensive approach includes not only the development and production of EVs, but also the use of on-board batteries as energy storage and their reuse for secondary purposes,” Nissan President and Chief Executive Officer Makoto Uchida stated. “Our announcement today comes out of lengthy discussions held within our teams, and will greatly accelerate our efforts in Europe to achieve carbon neutrality. The experience and know-how gained through the project announced today will be shared globally, enhancing Nissan's global competitiveness. Nissan will continue to leverage its strengths in electrification to become a company that continues to provide value to its customers and society.”

In parallel, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, “Nissan's announcement to build its new-generation all-electric vehicle in Sunderland, alongside a new gigafactory from Envision-AESC, is a major vote of confidence in the UK and our highly-skilled workers in the North East. Building on over 30 years of history in the area, this is a pivotal moment in our electric vehicle revolution and securing its future for decades to come. Commitments like these exemplify our ability to create hundreds of green jobs and boost British industry, whilst also allowing people to travel in an affordable and sustainable way so we can eliminate our contributions to climate change.”

The project also gives 6,200 job opportunities at Nissan and its UK suppliers, including over 900 Nissan jobs and 750 new Envision AESC jobs at the smart and low-carbon battery plant. The project also aims to modernize and expand the EV production capability of Nissan in the UK.

Envision AESC is a global player in world-leading battery technology. It is the battery arm of global green tech company Envision Group. It will be using integrated AIoT smart technology to monitor the energy consumption, manufacturing, and maintenance at the new gigafactory. This will help increase production and provide batteries that can power up to 100,000 Nissan EVs a year.

“This fantastic investment by Nissan and Envision AESC represents a solemn commitment to the people of Sunderland, bringing further high-skilled jobs and turbocharging our plans to level up the North East,” UK Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng stated. “This is a huge step forward in our ambition to put the UK at the front of the global electric vehicle race, and further proof, if any was needed, that the UK remains one of the most competitive locations in the world for automotive manufacturing. I am extremely proud that Nissan has not only reaffirmed its belief in Britain, but is doubling down on its long-standing commitment to our country. The cars made in this plant, using batteries made just down the road at the UK's first at scale gigafactory, will have a huge role to play as we transition away from petrol and diesel cars and kick-start a domestic electric vehicle manufacturing base.”

In 2012, Envision AESC established Europe’s first battery plant in Sunderland for the production of the battery of Nissan Leaf. The factory has produced cells, modules, and packs that are used to power over 180,000 EVs in 44 countries.

Envision AESC will also invest  £450 million for the construction of UK’s first gigafactory at the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP), adjacent to the Nissan plant. The gigafactory will be powered by renewable energy, establishing next-generation battery technology.

In a statement, Envision Group Founder and Chief Executive Officer Lei Zhang said, “Envision Group's mission is to be the net zero technology partner of choice for global enterprises, governments, and cities. We are therefore delighted to be a part of EV36Zero with Nissan and Sunderland City Council. As part of this, Envision AESC will invest £450m in a new, cutting-edge, low-carbon gigafactory in Sunderland creating 700 new jobs.”

“This commitment builds on our long-term partnership with Nissan to achieve our global ambition to make high performance, longer range batteries for EVs affordable and accessible for millions more motorists,” Zhang added. “Growth in demand could bring future investment of up to £1.8 billiion, additional capacity of 25GWh and 4,500 jobs by 2030. This will put the North East at the heart of a new EV hub in the UK, collaborating on R&D around the whole battery lifecycle, from storage, to second life use, V2G smart charging and closed loop recycling.”

Aside from the £1-billion EV hub, Nissan will also invest up to £423 million to develop a new-generation all-electric vehicle in the UK. The vehicle will be exported to the European markets that are served by the Sunderland plant. The upcoming crossover will be built on the Alliance CMF-EV platform, with an estimated production of up to 100,000 units. More details, including pricing and features, will be unveiled closer to its market launch.

Nissan started its production in Sunderland in July 1986. Since then, the plant has emerged to be the biggest in the history of UK automotive industry. Also based in the UK are Nissan’s European Design Center in Paddington, London and the R&D Center in Cranfield, Bedfordshire.

The Sunderland plant currently manufactures Nissan Qashqai, Nissan Juke, and Nissan Leaf. Seventy percent of the units produced are exported to mainland Europe, while 20% are sold in the UK and 10% are exported to other global markets.

The EV36Zero ushers in the new era of Nissan’s electrification plan and its UK operations. “This is a landmark day for Nissan, our partners, the UK and the automotive industry as a whole. Nissan EV36Zero will transform the idea of what is possible for our industry and set a roadmap for the future for all,” Nissan Chief Operating Officer Ashwani Gupta stated. “We reached a new frontier with the Nissan Leaf, the world's first mass-market all-electric vehicle. Now, with our partners, Nissan will pioneer the next phase of the automotive industry as we accelerate towards full electrification and carbon neutrality.”

Photos from Nissan

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