Around 1100 jobs could be safeguarded at Nissan’s Sunderland plant, as Nissan are to reveal their latest compact car at the 79th Geneva Motor Show.
The concept is called ‘Qazana’ and the yet unnamed production car is planned to be built in Nissan’s super efficient Sunderland plant from 2010 and whilst that’s not been 100% confirmed, the capacity to build the new car will exist when the current version of the Micra ends in 2010 and all indications point that way.
Undoubtedly, the ‘Qazana’ will be the star of the show for Nissan as it makes its world debut at Geneva. The ‘Qazana’ will be a small Crossover vehicle and build on the success of the Qashqai and has been designed to challenge the conventional wisdom as to what buyers of small five door cars should expect.
It’s difficult to describe the way a car looks in writing, but the ‘Qazana’ is a striking looking car, dominated by large, wide wheel arches and a lower shape which gives a feeling of strength, while the upper body is dynamic, assertive and sporty. Qazana is a five-door, with the rear doors opening forwards once the front doors have been opened, in the style of ‘suicide doors’.
Nissan’s have been the pioneers of the Crossover type vehicle and this new car has been designed and developed in the UK and will represent around £57m of investment, taking Nissans total investment in the UK plant up to around £2.5b since it all started way back in 1984.
Trevor Mann, Nissan Senior Vice President for Manufacturing in Europe, commented: “The difficulties currently facing the car industry have been widely documented, and Nissan has not been immune. As a result we have had to make some difficult decisions, but the reason we have done so is to secure a long and positive future for the plant. Qazana points the way to that future and gives an indication of the unique and exciting car we will be producing in Sunderland next year.”
Nissan has invested in the UK for 25 years now and at all levels in the car company, are really nice people and we for one hope the new car proves to be a great success for them and for the guys and gals up north who nail it all together
