Statement attributable to Councillor Paul Watson, Leader of Sunderland City Council
Great News.
Today’s announcement is a major vote of confidence in Sunderland as a centre of global excellence in automotive manufacturing.
The announcement not only helps secure 7,000 jobs, but will also see the plant upgraded.
It’s a huge tribute to their excellent workforce and to Sunderland’s position as a ‘jewel in Nissan’s crown’.
The City Council and many others across the North East region have been working closely with the company to make sure they were best placed to compete for the Qashqai replacement. The Government, too, has been speaking with Nissan about how the UK’s economy remains competitive and efficient.
With the Government and so many others all working together, this is a tremendous boost for the city’s economy, the region’s economy, and for the UK economy.
Nissan Sunderland is a major British exporter and this will help secure many thousands more jobs in the regional and national supply chains.
We haven’t just heard about the Qashqai – we’ve secured a new model in the X-Trail too.
Looking ahead, it means that the City Council and its joint-venture partner South Tyneside Council can also look more closely at the next steps for developing the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP).
This will help with further support for Nissan and the wider automotive sector to grow on land close to the company’s Sunderland plant with plans to create an additional 5,000 manufacturing jobs.