Nissan will begin building updated LEAF models at its Sunderland, UK plant later this year. Ahead of its arrival, Nissan scored a new supply deal with JATCO for EV powertrains that will be built at a nearby facility. The parts will be used for the new LEAF and other upcoming Nissan EVs.
Nissan scores EV powertrain supply deal for new LEAF
Japanese auto transmission giant JATCO opened its new manufacturing plant in Sunderland on Thursday, calling it “a major boost” to the UK auto industry.
The 138,840 sq ft facility is part of a nearly $60 million (£48.7m) investment as the UK government pushes to establish a competitive EV supply chain. It will create up to 183 new jobs in the area and will be able to build up to 340,000 EV powertrains annually.
JATCO established a new division, JATCO UK, that will begin supplying upcoming electric Nissan models built in Sunderland.
The investment is on top of Nissan’s up to $3.8 billion (£3 billion) commitment to prepare its UK plant to build next-gen LEAF, Qashqai, and Juke EV models.
Nissan’s so-called “EV36Zero hub” in Sunderland includes three new gigafactories to produce three EVs and their batteries.
JATCO’s new plant will open in 2026 and begin supplying units for upcoming Nissan EV models. The first will be the next-generation LEAF. According to Autocar, Nissan could begin producing new LEAF models as soon as March. The electric Juke and Qashqai SUVs will follow around 2027.
Earlier this week, the updated LEAF was spotted testing in the US. Past reports claimed that it looks more like a crossover coupe than the outgoing hatch design.
Sources who have seen the new model described it as a “mini Ariya,” Nissan’s larger electric SUV. Although the spy photos show only a glimpse, they reveal a sportier, streamlined shape.
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