Nissan prepares electric versions of bestsellers and transforms the leaf

Nissan's Sunderland plant, located in the UK, is set to become the hub of development for the notable Japanese brand. The plant is expected to produce up to three electric models, including two completely new offerings.

Nissan is doubling down on its engagement with electromobility-oriented solutions. This commitment is evident in the Leaf model, which was the top-selling electric car globally before Tesla's rise in popularity. Moreover, Nissan's existing lineup includes the Ariya SUV, and it utilizes multiple hybrid solutions that prioritize the electric component.

Considering this, it's unsurprising that the Japanese manufacturer plans to focus more on electric car production in the future. By 2030, irrespective of agreements and legal regulations, Nissan aims to exclusively produce and sell electric cars in Europe.

The Sunderland plant, the center of these plans, has attracted co-financing totaling 1.5 billion pounds (approximately $2.04 billion). This funding will aid in adapting the plant for electric car production.

It has been announced that the Sunderland factory will manufacture three car models. The first of these is the Nissan Leaf, which has already seen as many as 250,000 units produced in Sunderland. However, the hatchback is expected to transform into a crossover, a development that might not appeal to everyone.

The upcoming models to be manufactured at the Sunderland factory are electric versions of the Qashqai and the Juke. This shouldn't pose a challenge to the Sunderland plant's employees. They not only have experience working with electric engines, but they've also been producing Qashqai and Juke for quite some time, in both petrol and hybrid versions.

The new vehicles will be based on two recently introduced concept cars - Hyper Urban and Hyper Punk, as well as the 2021 Chill-Out concept.