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Mandelson "hopeful" for Sunderland electric cars

A meeting with a senior executive in Japan has left Business Secretary Lord Mandelson “very hopeful” that Nissan will produce its new electric car in Sunderland.

Lord Mandelson said he had “continued to push the case for Sunderland with determination and vigour,” during a meeting with Nissan’s senior vice-president Andy Palmer at the British Embassy in Tokyo.

He said: “The Government is doing everything possible to secure electric vehicle production in Sunderland.”

Hopes are high that Sunderland will be chosen to make the Leaf electric car for the European market following Nissan’s decision to site a “mother” plant to produce batteries for the vehicles in the region.

Lord Mandelson said: “I am excited that we are going to see battery production in Britain, and I’m very hopeful that will be followed up by the full car production.

“So between Britain and Nissan, it’s all systems go.”

Nissan again stressed that no decision had been made on a site for electric car production for the European market.

Mr Palmer, the Japan-based head of the company’s electric vehicle programme praised the North East’s “fabulous” attitude to low-carbon vehicles last month.

He said a decision on where the Leaf will be made was expected to be taken by the end of the year and added: “The guys at Sunderland are making a lot of effort, they are keen to get it.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .