The Qashqai has long been the most produced car in the UK, and this year the UK Nissan plant has shifted to manufacturing the long-awaited third-generation model. This gave the plant a boost, adding 400 jobs after delays in replacing the Qashqai and Juke reduced overall production from more than half a million units in 2016 to 346,535 in 2019 and to 245,649 last year.
A new electric crossover to replace the Leaf EV will also be launched over the next two years, coinciding with the Envision battery investment and creating 900 additional jobs, according to Nissan.
Toyota: Burnaston and Deeside
Toyota was the UK’s fourth-largest car maker last year. It produced 116,261 Corollas at its factory in Burnaston in Derbyshire, placing it third in the UK model production charts for 2020 after the Qashqai and the Mini, according to SMMT figures. It has also manufactured 245,118 engines in Deeside, North Wales, for Toyota’s hybrids here and elsewhere.
The continued popularity of Toyota’s hybrid models means none of these facilities are short of work, but questions remain as the UK and mainland Europe move to full electrification. All eyes will be on the Corolla’s planned replacement around 2026 and the potential state aid Toyota will receive to keep production in the UK.
“The timing is good enough for us,” said a Toyota spokesperson. “Nothing needs to be decided immediately in the short term, so we can wait and see what emerges from the government consultation.”
More about this article: Read More
Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-08-24 23:01:24
