Nissan to invest £170m in Sunderland for new Kicks hybrid

Fahad Redha

September 17, 2026
2 min read

Nissan to invest £170m in Sunderland for new Kicks hybrid

Nissan is investing £170 million in its Sunderland manufacturing plant to build the new Kicks compact crossover for European customers, strengthening the UK site’s role as the Japanese manufacturer expands its electrified vehicle range.

The second-generation Nissan Kicks will be produced alongside the Qashqai, Juke, and new all-electric LEAF, with Sunderland supplying vehicles for the UK, Europe, and Turkey. The allocation comes as the plant marks its 40th anniversary and reaches another major production milestone, having now built 12 million vehicles since the first Bluebird left the factory in 1986.

The investment also adds another model to Sunderland’s growing electrified production capability. Kicks will use Nissan’s third-generation e-POWER hybrid system, which was introduced in 2025 with changes designed to improve fuel efficiency, reduce emissions and increase refinement.

Unlike a conventional hybrid, e-POWER uses its petrol engine to generate electricity rather than directly driving the wheels. The wheels are powered solely by an electric motor, giving the Kicks an electric-drive character while retaining the ability to refuel at a petrol station.

For Nissan, the European arrival of Kicks also broadens its choice of electrified powertrains. More than 1.9 million e-POWER vehicles have been sold globally since the technology launched in 2016, including more than 200,000 Qashqai e-POWER models built in Sunderland.

The new model will become the tenth Nissan vehicle allocated to Sunderland production since the plant opened. Nissan says the site has received £5 billion of investment over four decades and now employs around 6,000 people directly, with a further 30,000 jobs supported through its supply chain.

Sunderland’s production portfolio is set to change further, with the next-generation Juke also due to enter production from next year as a fully electric model. Nissan also operates a design centre in Paddington, London, and a research and development facility in Cranfield, Bedfordshire.

The Kicks announcement therefore carries significance beyond the arrival of another crossover. It links Nissan’s future European product strategy with continued investment in UK manufacturing, while giving Sunderland another electrified vehicle to build as the automotive industry moves towards lower-emission technologies.

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About Author

Fahad Redha

Fahad is the Content Editor at EyeOnLondon, overseeing the publication’s editorial output across news, culture, and lifestyle. With a background in journalism from the University of the Creative Arts, he brings a broad range of experience from local London reporting in Kensington & Chelsea, where he held roles including motoring, events, and health editor. At EyeOnLondon, Fahad plays a central role in shaping content and maintaining editorial standards. His work spans everything from daily news to feature coverage, with a particular strength in motoring and events. He also incorporates photography into his reporting, adding a visual layer to many of his stories. Fahad joined EyeOnLondon in February 2021.