A survey by the Welsh Automotive Forum of local supply chain companies shows 88% expect May turnover to be reduced by more than 50%. Even for July, 38% expect turnover to be 30%+ reduced on pre-COVID-19 levels. RAC patrols rescued some 3,426 motorists whose vehicles may have fallen victim to the UK’s pothole-ridden roads in the first three months of 2020, … [Read more...]
Tradelines 26 February
The new DBX SUV has been given the Q-treatment of bespoke luxuries and features by Aston Martin. The Welsh-made luxury car will be shown in its latest Q-code design at next week’s Geneva motor show. Volkswagen's adding a range-topping premium model to its flagship Touareg line – the Touareg R. The versatile model’s 340 kW (462 PS) plug-in hybrid drive … [Read more...]
Mobility turns over a new leaf
A top-secret electric vehicle has completed the UK’s longest and most complex autonomous car journey. The modified 2017 electric Nissan LEAF travelled from Nissan Technical Centre Europe in Cranfield, Beds., to the brand’s manufacturing plant in Sunderland. Over the course of the 230 mile journey, the autonomous car tackled country lanes with no or minimal … [Read more...]
Newslines 14 October
The next Nissan Juke will be assembled in its Sunderland plant after a £100M investment. The confirmation came just days after Nissan ended night shifts at the plant which opened in 35 years ago but the future of the Qashqai being built there is uncertain as the car makers wants to study and react to Britain’s Brexit deal. Automotive charity BEN has found … [Read more...]
Nissan Qashqai future uncertain in Sunderland
The next Nissan Qashqai’s future in Sunderland plant is in doubt and the plant faces possible closure. That’s the stark warning over a possible no-deal Brexit for the UK at the end of this month, say media reports but unconfirmed by Nissan. It was opened in 1986 and has built Micra and Qashqai models there as well as Infiniti versions of the brand’s … [Read more...]
Tradelines 18 July
Eight years after it created the compact crossover segment, the one millionth Juke has rolled off the line at Nissan Sunderland Plant. On average, a Juke is built at the plant every 105 seconds, while three million Qashqai have been built there since 2006. Ford in America will pay the equivalent of over £226M to settle a civil actions arising from … [Read more...]
Nissan to axe hundreds of Sunderland jobs
Hundreds of jobs are going at Nissan, Sunderland, the country’s largest car plant employing 7,000 people. The cuts will also affect scores of UK suppliers, including some in Wales, who make components for the Japanese owned plant near Newcastle. Nissan has been caught by the dramatic fall in diesel demand – down over a third so far this year – … [Read more...]
Tradelines 12 July
Production of the latest Nissan Qashqai is underway at its Sunderland plant. There is a new design, upgraded interior, better performance and added mobility technologies, with an advanced self-driving mode from spring 2018. A regional conference for members of the Freight Transport Association will be held at the Celtic Manor Resort on 4 October. It … [Read more...]
Multi-million-pound Nissan Sunderland investment
Nissan will create a “super-plant” at its Sunderland centre. Confirming the next Qashqai will be built there, it unexpectedly yesterday added that the X-Trail SUV will also go into production in the North East. To do this the current installed capacity of 475,000 cars will be expanded and Nissan aims to build 600,000 cars from 2018. It is almost … [Read more...]
Nissan Note production to end in UK
Nissan will end Note production in Sunderland next spring. It has been a slow seller and now Nissan want to create room to expand Qashqai production as its best seller in Europe. The company said it was going to put the next generation Juke, based on the Qashqai, into production for sale in 2018 but has indicated it may rethink its production strategy … [Read more...]