Nissan has announced plans to bring the production of its popular all-electric Leaf model to the UK’s largest car manufacturing plant in Sunderland. The third-generation Leaf will offer up to 375 miles of range on a single charge when it goes on sale later this year. The Japanese manufacturer revealed the redesigned Leaf as part of its transformation of the northeast plant into a major electric vehicle hub. The new model is the first vehicle to be launched under Nissan’s EV36Zero blueprint for future EV production.
Key Features of the New Nissan Leaf
The carmaker will offer two versions of the electric car when orders open in Autumn. The Standard model features a 52kWh battery providing up to 270 miles of range, while the Extended version uses a 75kWh battery to achieve a 375-mile capability. The vehicle will be built at Nissan’s Sunderland facility by a workforce of 6,000 people and powered by batteries from AESC, Britain’s newest gigafactory, located adjacent to the Nissan plant.
Production and Manufacturing
The Sunderland plant’s electrification plans extend beyond the Leaf, with the next-generation Nissan Qashqai e-POWER set to arrive in the coming months, followed by an all-new fully electric Juke next year. Alan Johnson, Senior Vice President of Manufacturing & Supply Chain Management at Nissan Motor Manufacturing, said: “It’s with immense pride that we unveil the third generation of our pioneering electric Leaf, 12 years after we brought EV and battery manufacturing to the UK.”
James Taylor, managing director of Nissan GB, added that the Leaf has “encouraged thousands to make the switch to electric motoring and best of all, it was built here in Britain.” The electric Nissan Leaf has sold more than 650,000 units worldwide.
Broader Electrification Strategy
Nissan’s broader electrification strategy includes the new fully electric Micra, designed in London, which will go on sale later this year. The company will also launch a smaller city car in 2026, ensuring a full range of electric vehicles suitable for all customers. David Moss, Senior Vice President for Region Research and Development at Nissan, shared: “As well as welcoming the return of the Micra as an EV and the third generation of our revolutionary Leaf, we’ve made significant steps with one of our most popular technologies.”
