Nissan said Friday that it would invest an additional 1.1 billion pounds (about $1.4 billion) to make three new electric models at its plant in Sunderland in northeast England.
The announcement, which included plans for an additional battery plant, appears to go a long way to ensure that a substantial auto manufacturing industry will continue in Britain in the coming decade or longer.
Brexit, which has made trade with the European Union more cumbersome, and the global shift to electric cars had raised fears that the British vehicle manufacturing industry faced an existential crisis.
Britain’s output of cars has fallen by around 50 percent over the last six years.
“I think it is a very significant investment,” said Peter Wells, an automotive specialist at Cardiff Business School.
Persons:
“, ”, Peter Wells
Organizations:
Nissan, European, Cardiff Business School
Locations:
Sunderland, England, Britain, European Union