JATCO Opens Electric Vehicle Plant in Sunderland

Nissan and the Japan Automatic Transmission Company (JATCO) have announced a £50m investment to establish a new manufacturing plant in Sunderland, which will be JATCO’s first in Europe and support Nissan's EV36Zero project. The facility, set to create 183 high-value jobs and support over 400 in the supply chain, will produce 3-in-1 electric vehicle powertrains for Nissan's upcoming models, including the Leaf, Juke, and Qashqai. The plant is expected to begin production in 2026, with an annual output target of 340,000 electric powertrains. This investment is viewed as a significant endorsement of the UK's automotive sector and its transition to electric vehicles, supported by the UK government's Automotive Transformation Fund. Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds hailed the deal as a major vote of confidence in the UK economy and a step towards establishing a competitive electric vehicle supply chain. The new facility is located near Nissan's existing plant and is part of a broader £2bn investment plan in the region.