30 Years of Nissan Sunderland: Major Milestones, Plant Investment and the Impact on the Region
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NEAA is supported by NEIssue 5 twork September 2016 30 Years of Nissan Sunderland: Major Milestones, Plant Investment and the Impact on the Region Real-time Monitoring System Delivers Savings to Automotive Supply Chain North East Automotive Expo Returns for its Second Year Reprotec Provides Floor Safety Solutions to Mecaplast Peterlee: NEAA member collaboration has kept business within the North East northeastautomotivealliance.com Contents NEAA Membership As a proactive industry-led cluster group, the North East Automotive Alliance (NEAA) is here to represent and work on behalf of the whole North East automotive sector, whether a company is making cars or components, working in 3. NEAA News commercial, off-highway or engine manufacture. 7. Member Collaboration Whether you are a sole trader or a multi-national, the NEAA offers a fantastic opportunity to join a network of North East automotive supply chain companies all working towards the same goal of driving the sustainable economic growth of 8. SME Programme the region’s automotive sector. Members will immediately benefit from the promotion of the North East automotive 9. Business Excellence sector’s capabilities on regional, national and international levels and the network’s ability to connect the supply chain to business opportunities. 10. Skills The NEAA is a not for profit organisation limited by guarantee and membership is restricted to companies and not personal membership. Fees start from as little as £200 11. Innovation & Technology +VAT per annum and are based on a company’s number of UK employees. 12. Interview of the Quarter Benefits: • Business and collaboration opportunities 14. Member Collaboration • International trade, new business opportunities and supply chain connections • Business Excellence Programmes and sharing of best practice 16. Member News • Addressing current skill gaps, attracting talent, apprenticeships and links to education 18. NEAA Members • Insights into latest technologies and stimulating innovation • Regular networking and knowledge transferring events • A single unified voice for the North East automotive sector to key stakeholder groups • Publicity of your business and the regions capabilities on a global level • Coverage in the quarterly NEAA NEtwork magazine (free ½ page editorial and consideration of member news thereafter) • Monthly NEAA e-newsletter submissions as required NEAA is supported by • Free/ discounted entry to NEAA events • Access to NEAA’s exclusive members’ area for sharing knowledge, information and business opportunities, plus use of the M2M direct messaging • Detailed company profile on the NEAA Website Supply Chain Directory • Discounted Energy and Insurance Schemes While every care has been taken to ensure that all material • Infiniti Fleet and Employee Car Scheme - up to 31% off the Infiniti range with Infiniti is accurate at the time of going to press, the NEAA cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions and no liability is Centre Newcastle accepted for omission or failure from any cause. • Marketing support All advertisements are accepted only on the grounds that they comply with the terms of the Trade Descriptions Act • Technical and funding advice 1968 and all other relevant legislation. The inclusion of an advertisement cannot be constructed as an endorsement • Industry intelligence by the NEAA, their employees or agents. No material in this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written consent from the NEAA. NEtwork Editorial & Advertisement Contact Details The NEAA SME project is receiving up to £669,000 of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund Laura Gage I Marketing & PR Manager Advertising & Sponsorship (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Department for Communities and Local Government is the Managing Email: [email protected] Inside Front Cover | £750 +VAT Authority for ERDF. Tel: 0191 516 4400 Outside Back Cover | £1,000 +VAT Established by the European Union ERDF funds help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing Mob: 0770 381 9228 Half Page | £400 +VAT in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations. For more Send us your news and editorial for NEtwork Sponsorship | £1,500 +VAT information visit: www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding consideration in the next quarterly issue! Issue 5 Advertisement includes editorial placement NEAA News L to R: Former Sunderland Airfield where Nissan Sunderland is based, the Sunderland Plant today after major investment, 2016 30 Years of Nissan Sunderland September 2016 marks the 30 year anniversary of Nissan Sunderland. new car every 58 seconds and accounts for a third of all UK car production. 80% of all vehicles are exported worldwide from the Nissan’s decision to build a facility in Sunderland in 1984 came at River Tyne to more than 130 markets. Nissan is now the region’s a time when the North East was experiencing economic hardship biggest employer, with a headcount of more than 6,800 - a stark due to the demise of heavy industry. contrast from its 22 workers in 1986. With a deal agreed, the plant was built on what was the former The success of the North East automotive sector is unprecedented. Sunderland Airfield and the first car, a Nissan Bluebird, rolled off the Today, the region is renowned as a centre of excellence for production line in 1986. automotive manufacturing. The supply chain has grown in line with Nissan’s growth and this year also marks 30 years of Calsonic Kansei Over the 30 years the car plant has changed dramatically and has in Sunderland, a tier 1 supplier to Nissan and also an active member more than quadrupled in size. Since opening, the plant has of the NEAA. manufactured over 8.5 million cars and the Japanese company has invested a huge £3.7 billion into the development and growth The North East accounts for 26% of all Electric Vehicle production of the manufacturing facility. across Europe. The Sunderland plant has been at the forefront of Nissan’s electric vehicle strategy, producing its popular Leaf model. Nissan investment was the catalyst for other automotive related In May this year, the 50,000th Leaf rolled off the production line at investments. Today, we have 28 tier 1 suppliers based in the region - Sunderland – making it the first European carmaker to reach this 30 years ago there was only one! milestone in EV production. The factory has come a long way since an assembly line for the The region also boasts a significant and growing reputation for Nissan Bluebird in 1986. It has evolved into the current two production investment into research and development and new and emerging lines, taking raw materials, even from the point of pressing the steel, technologies such as advanced propulsion and connected and through to a finished product in about 25 hours. That evolution autonomous vehicles. continues as the factory has moved into the production of the premium brand, Infiniti, and is now building the Q30. Nissan recently announced that the refreshed Qashqai will be equipped with Piloted Drive 1.0, a feature that allows cars to drive Most recently the plant is working on a 362,000 sqm extension housing autonomously in a single lane in heavy traffic. an extra-large press at Sunderland to facilitate ongoing production, whilst a £22m investment is being carried out on Line 2 to support North East Automotive Facts: increased production of the Qashqai, the most successful car ever • Over 240 automotive companies manufactured in the UK. • Generate over £11 billion in sales • Export over £5.1 billion annually Over the years, the plant has thrived thanks to important production • Trade surplus of £2.6bn contract wins, including Micra, which was voted European Car of • Directly employ 30,000 people the Year and Qashqai, a model that has proved phenomenally • Impacts a further 141,000 jobs across the UK successful since production began in 2006. • 46 projects have delivered £1.6 billion investment into the Proud of its reputation of one of Europe’s most productive car North East plants, Nissan Sunderland has some impressive statistics - currently • North East accounts for 26% of all Electric Vehicle production producing more than 500,000 cars per year, the plant outputs a across Europe 3. NEAA News Nissan - 30 Years in Pictures Nissan Sunderland Opening Ceremony with Margaret Thatcher, The first car produced in Sunderland - Nissan Bluebird, 1986 1986 Nissan Bluebird, 1986 Infiniti Q30 launched at the Sunderland Plant, 2015 Toshiyuki Shiga, COO at Sunderland Battery Plant Opening HRH The Prince of Wales visits the Sunderland Plant, 2015 Ceremony, 2013 Infiniti Centre Newcastle showroom, booking service appointments and ensuring that Year of Success for the Infiniti any subsequent enquiries are dealt with swiftly and professionally. Centre Newcastle There are also plans to expand the sales team, with the dealership actively searching for experienced motor retail sales The Infiniti Centre Newcastle is celebrating after a professionals who an help continue its sales expansion, whilst successful year in business, which has seen an maintaining its excellent reputation for customer service, which increase in sales and the creation of new jobs. has seen 98 percent of customers say they would recommend the dealership to a friend or family member. The Silverlink Business Park-based Infiniti Centre has seen a tenfold boost in sales of new vehicles, thanks, in no small part to The Newcastle dealership’s success has not gone unnoticed by the addition of the Sunderland-built Infiniti Q30, which has been Infiniti UK, which has chosen it to represent its network of 14 UK a hit with both critics and consumers alike. Sales of used vehicles Infiniti Centres at the European Dealer Board, which provides has seen a smaller, yet still impressive, 50 percent increase in the manufacturer with feedback on products and sales. sales. Jeff added: “It’s an exciting time for the Infiniti brand.