100% electric Nissan turns over a new Leaf

Second-generation Nissan Leaf electric cars have started rolling off the production line at Nissan’s giant UK plant in Sunderland.

Looking cooler than the outgoing model and embodying Nissan’s Intelligent Mobility vision, the new Leaf offers a greater range, advanced driver assistance technologies and enhanced connectivity.

The Sunderland plant is building the Leaf for the European market and the first customers are due to receive their new vehicles in February.

The Nissan Leaf has been in production in the UK since 2013, with more than 85,000 sold in Europe since 2011, when the first deliveries began from Nissan’s Oppama plant in Japan.

Following an initial investment of £420m, the introduction of the new car has been backed up by a further £36m investment in Nissan Sunderland Plant, supporting more than 2,000 jobs at Nissan and in the UK supply chain.

“Nissan led the way in introducing electric vehicles to Europe in 2011, and every year since then it’s been clear that more and more customers share our vision for the future of driving,” said Kevin Fitzpatrick, Nissan Europe Divisional Vice President for Manufacturing.

“We’re excited to start production in Sunderland and to bring the new Nissan LEAF to European markets from February.”