Nissan is to invest £170 million in its Sunderland manufacturing plant to produce the new Kicks compact crossover for the European market, in a move that strengthens the long-term future of the UK's largest car production facility.
The announcement will see the Kicks become the tenth model to be built at the North East plant and marks another significant milestone in the site's 40th anniversary year. Production of the compact B-segment crossover will take place alongside the Nissan Qashqai, Juke and LEAF.
The new model will be equipped with Nissan's e-POWER hybrid technology, a system in which the wheels are driven solely by an electric motor while a petrol engine generates electricity to recharge the battery. Nissan says the technology combines the smooth driving experience of an electric vehicle with the convenience of conventional refuelling.
Massimiliano Messina, chairperson of Nissan's Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania (AMIEO) region, said the decision demonstrated the company's ability to respond quickly to market opportunities.
"This is fantastic news for our European region and demonstrates the agility and speed with which we can bring new models to new markets," he said.
"Kicks is a compact crossover, with the unique e-POWER hybrid drivetrain, exciting design and innovative technology. Electrification with choice is what European customers want, and the introduction of Kicks will further demonstrate how Nissan has options for all."
The announcement represents the European debut of the Kicks, which is currently manufactured in Japan, Mexico and Brazil for global markets. Nissan says more than 1.8 million Kicks vehicles have been sold in over 70 countries worldwide.
The investment was welcomed by the UK Government, which described the decision as a major vote of confidence in the country's automotive manufacturing capabilities.
Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds said: "Nissan has been at the heart of British manufacturing for four decades, with Sunderland producing millions of vehicles that supported thousands of skilled jobs and helped establish the North East as a global automotive powerhouse.
"The decision to build this new model in Sunderland is a huge vote of confidence in the UK's manufacturing expertise and automotive future."
The Sunderland plant, operated by Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK (NMUK), has received around £5 billion of investment since it was established and currently employs approximately 6,000 people directly, while supporting an estimated 30,000 jobs across the supply chain.
This year the facility has reached another major landmark, surpassing 12 million vehicles built since the first Nissan Bluebird rolled off the production line in 1986. On average, that equates to one vehicle being produced every one minute and 45 seconds.
Adam Pennick, vice-president of manufacturing at Nissan Sunderland, said the model allocation was a fitting way to mark the plant's anniversary year.
"I'm proud to welcome this new model allocation for Sunderland. It's the perfect way to celebrate our 40th year as a world-class manufacturing site," he said.
The plant already manufactures e-POWER versions of the Qashqai and has built more than 200,000 of those vehicles. Globally, Nissan has sold more than 1.9 million e-POWER-equipped models since the technology was introduced in 2016.
The Kicks will feature Nissan's third-generation e-POWER system, launched in 2025 and designed to deliver improved fuel efficiency, lower emissions and enhanced refinement.
The latest announcement follows Nissan's recent confirmation of a new A-segment electric vehicle for Europe, named PIXO, which is due to be unveiled next week. Looking further ahead, Sunderland is also preparing to begin production of the next-generation Nissan Juke, which will become a fully electric model when it enters production next year.