Nissan (www.nissan-global.com) has confirmed that it will build the next-generation electric Leaf at its Sunderland plant, following a £36 million investment.

The company unveiled a new model of the all-electric family car (now with a range of 400km) in Japan last week.

The automotive firm said the new Leaf would go on sale in Japan on 2 October, with order books in other markets, including Europe, opening soon after.

It did not not say whether or not the European deliveries would be produced in Sunderland, but did confirm that Sunderland will be one of three plants globally to produce the new model; the other plants are Oppama, Japan, and Smyrna in the USA.

Nissan’s Sunderland plant started building the original Leaf in March 2013 and reached the 50,000 milestone in May last year.

Leaf and battery manufacturing supports more than 2,000 jobs at Nissan and its UK suppliers.

The first-generation Nissan Leaf is the most heavily demanded electric car in existence, with 283,000 units having been built — around 40,000 more than the entire Tesla range so far.

Sharon Hodgson, MP for the Washington and Sunderland West constituency that covers the Nissan plant, said: “This is wonderful news and it is all down to the exceptional hard work of the management and employees at Nissan, along with those working in the supply chain.

"Their determination has made the Nissan factory here in Sunderland such an incredible success story and the jewel in our region’s manufacturing crown. This investment is a reflection of that.”

In a separate move, a special ceremony held earlier this month at Sunderland’s Civic Centre saw Nissan’s 7,000-strong workforce granted the Freedom of the City of Sunderland in recognition of the role of Nissan’s workforce in establishing the largest and most successful ever plant in the history of UK car production.

Nissan was represented at the ceremony by 65 members of staff along with the city’s mayor, Doris Mac-Knight.