Nissan has announced that it is the build its new Leaf car at its Sunderland plant.
The car, which will come into production in 2013, is part of a nearly £500 million investment by the car manufacturer in electric cars.
Nissan will also receive £ 21 million from the UK government and a further £220 from the European Investment Bank.
The Japanese car giant is not alone in seeking subsidies to produce electric cares. Ford has just negotiated £360 in loan guarantees to do the same thing.
The batteries will also be made in Sunderland and the line should build to a top capacity of 60,000. The Leaf will be the first low-priced electric car and is aimed at the ordinary driver who is thinking of oil prices, greener and more efficient engines and wants less pollution.
Nissan are confident that by 2020 10% of the world’s car market will be taken by electric cars.
Firms in the North-East Firms or organisations wanting to install charging points for electric cars will have their investment matched out of the public purse, so installing a charging point costs them £2,500 rather than £5,000.
And the council itself is installing 88 charging points this year, says Sally Herbert of Newcastle City Council
Perhaps the North-East will win the race to be the first big employer of ‘green collar’ jobs?
Is this a business trend that other areas in the UK will want to copy?