The third generation Nissan LEAF is gliding silently off a transformed Sunderland Plant production line as the company brings to life its world first EV36Zero plan.
Building the new LEAF in the UK represents an investment of £450m by Nissan across its operations and supply chain and marks the return of the car that pioneered mass EV production more than a decade ago.
Massimiliano Messina, Chairperson Nissan Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania (AMIEO), said: “Today is a momentous occasion as we begin production of the third generation Nissan LEAF in the UK, the electric vehicle that started it all.
“Smart, sleek and aerodynamic, the all-new LEAF captures the energy of a new generation as a car that redefines what’s possible and sets the stage for Nissan’s next chapter.
“LEAF brings to life our world first EV36Zero vision, which combines EV manufacturing, battery production and renewable energy.”
To launch its most advanced vehicle yet, Nissan has transformed Sunderland Plant, enabling EV manufacturing on production Line Two for the first time.
To support production of LEAF in Sunderland, the plant’s transformation has included:
– Adoption of factory of the future technology including intelligent use of big data, virtual reality and digital mapping of the plant
– 137 new press dies (the giant moulds that are used to press LEAF’s 42 different body panels) in the Press and Plastics Shop
– 78 new high-tech robots in the Body Shop, including a fully automated laser welding facility, delivering precision to 0.3mm, to craft LEAF’s seamless roof
– New colour palettes in Paint Shop to give LEAF its vibrant new Sukumo Blue and Luminous Teal colours
– A state-of-the-art battery marriage facility in Trim and Chassis. This fully automated technology brings the battery into the car, applying 26 bolts in 56 seconds
– 475 new automated guided vehicles to deliver parts direct to the production line for new LEAF
– More than 360,000 hours’ training across the team of 6,000 to build the new car
The landscape around the plant has also been transformed with a brand-new AESC gigafactory just over the road from the plant. AESC will supply next-generation battery technology with increased energy density to deliver superior range and performance for the new LEAF.
LEAF has been built in Sunderland since 2013, with 282,704 manufactured in total at the plant.
With its sleek and aerodynamic design, the first of the new LEAF off the line was a two-tone Luminous Teal Evolve grade equipped with a 75kw battery which offers a range of up to 386 miles (WLTP). The new LEAF also supports 150kW DC fast charging, adding up to 273 miles in just 30 minutes.
Impressive inside as well as out, the car delivers a fully connected mobility experience with Google built-in and advanced driver assistance technologies. Twin 14.3″ screens help form a fully digital cockpit, while the NissanConnect Services connectivity app gives remote access to battery checks, climate preparation, and journey planning, ensuring the LEAF is as connected outside as it is inside.
The team at Sunderland Plant will follow LEAF with a new all-electric Nissan JUKE next year, with both models built on the plant’s production Line Two. It means that Nissan Sunderland now produces vehicles from fully electric to hybrid, including Nissan’s unique e-POWER technology on Qashqai, and JUKE HEV, as well as ICE.
Built in Sunderland, engineers at Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE) in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, played a defining role in shaping the design, technology, and driving character of the all-new Nissan LEAF, with the majority of their innovations carried through to UK, Japanese and US models.
