Nissan plans £170m Sunderland investment, tied to EV-policy changes
Nissan plans £170 million of investment to build the Kicks hybrid in Sunderland, with the company seeking lower UK electric-vehicle sales targets.
In short
- Nissan plans £170 million of investment to build the Kicks hybrid in Sunderland, with the company seeking lower UK electric-vehicle sales targets.
Nissan announced on 16 September 2026 that it plans to invest £170 million to manufacture its Kicks hybrid crossover in Sunderland for the European market. The project would add a fourth model to the British factory’s production line-up.
A Nissan announcement carried by the Sunderland Business Partnership says the Kicks will use the company’s e-POWER hybrid system and be built alongside the Qashqai, Juke and Leaf. The factory marks its 40th anniversary in 2026. The investment and model announcement were also reported by Reuters and ITV News.
The Guardian reports that Nissan linked the investment to changes in UK electric-vehicle sales requirements. Autocar separately reported that the company wants the 2030 electric-vehicle sales quota reduced from 80% to 50% to support the plan’s viability.
That qualification leaves an important policy dependency attached to the announcement. The proposed spending should therefore be understood as a production plan, with Nissan still seeking changes to the regulatory conditions under which it would operate.
