Earlier this month, Nissan Motor Co Ltd announced that the next-generation X-Trail for the European market will be produced in its Kyushu plant in Japan instead of its UK plant (in Sunderland), as announced in 2016.

Since that time, Nissan (wwww.nissan-global.com) has increased its investment in new powertrains and other technology for its future European vehicles; it has therefore decided to “optimise its investments in Europe by consolidating X-Trail production in Kyushu, the production hub for this global model”.

Other future models planned for the Sunderland plant — the next-generation Juke and Qashqai — are unaffected.

Nissan vice-president Hideyuki Sakamoto said: “A model like X-Trail is manufactured in multiple locations globally and can therefore be re-evaluated, based on changes to the business environment. As always, Nissan has to make
optimal use of its global investments for the benefits of its customers.”

Nissan Europe chairman Gianluca de Ficchy said: “Nissan is investing heavily in new technologies and powertrains for the next generation of vehicles in our Sunderland plant.

"To support this, we are taking advantage of our global assets, and with X-Trail already manufactured in Japan, we can reduce our upfront investment costs. We appreciate this will be disappointing for our UK team and partners.

"Our workforce in Sunderland has our full confidence and will continue to benefit from the investment planned for Juke and Qashqai. While we have taken this decision for business reasons, the continued uncertainty around the UK’s future relationship with the EU is not helping companies like ours to plan for the future.”

Production of the next-generation Juke and Qashqai in Sunderland — the biggest car plant in the UK — is supported by major new facilities, including a new paint facility and a second new extra-large press.

Current production in Sunderland also includes the Nissan LEAF, which is Europe’s best-selling electric car. The new LEAF e+ upgrade is due for launch in the coming months.

Business Secretary Greg Clark said: “Nissan’s announcement is a blow to the sector and the region, as this was to be a further significant expansion of the site and the workforce.

“The company has confirmed that no jobs will be lost and has reiterated its commitment to the UK by continuing to manufacture in Sunderland the current Qashqai, Leaf and Juke models and the new Qashqai model from 2020.”