A new £50m investment deal between the Japan Automatic Transmission Company (JATCO), Nissan and the UK government will establish an advanced electric vehicle (EV) powertrain manufacturing plant in Sunderland.
The facility, JATCO’s first in Europe, will utilise automation and high-precision manufacturing processes to produce 3-in-1 powertrains for Nissan’s Sunderland operations.
The plant is projected to create 183 jobs and support more than 400 roles across the supply chain. By 2026, it aims to deliver 340,000 powertrains annually.
Julian Hetherington, automotive transformation director at the Advanced Propulsion Centre, said: “The Automotive Transformation Fund has played a pivotal role in attracting this investment, which will bring advanced technology and high-quality manufacturing to the North East.”
The investment builds on Sunderland’s established reputation as a hub for advanced EV manufacturing, complementing Nissan’s £2bn investment in the region and AESC’s battery production facility.
Alan Johnson, Nissan’s senior vice president for manufacturing, said: “Localising key suppliers like JATCO strengthens our supply chain and enhances our ability to innovate.”
The project aligns with the UK’s Plan for Change, aiming to expand the automotive sector’s reliance on automation and innovation to achieve sustainable growth and strengthen domestic supply chains.
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