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- Sunderland gets UK’s first electric battery factory
- Nissan to build new electric vehicle on site
- Plan creates 1,650 roles, and 4,500 more in supply chain
- Gap to close all 81 stores in UK and Ireland
The Unite union is also warning that Britain needs more electric battery factories – and risks falling behind other countries without more investment.
Steve Turner, Unite assistant general secretary for manufacturing, says the “fantastic first” gigafactory announced in Sunderland must not be the last – at least six more are needed.
We need at least another six giga-factories to secure the UK’s future as a green auto manufacturer, with investment in the domestic manufacture of the high value components all urgently needed to successfully transition this industry and consumers away from the combustion engine.
“So, I urge the government not to rest on its laurels. Ministers must say more today about when these sites will be forthcoming.
“Across the world a green manufacturing revolution is underway. Businesses and investors are scouring the planet looking for opportunities to install green infrastructure and technology at pace and on a huge scale, and they will go where they can see a committed government partner.
“Unfortunately, the employers I deal with every day are tearing their hair out with frustration at the UK government’s half-baked, uncoordinated approach to supporting green manufacturing. So I say to ministers celebrating today, you have to step up – no more easy soundbites. Miss this moment to deliver on green jobs and it will not come around again.
Here’s more from Nissan president and chief executive Makoto Uchida on today’s announcement:
“This project comes as part of Nissan’s pioneering efforts to achieve carbon neutrality throughout the entire lifecycle of our products.
“Our comprehensive approach includes not only the development and production of EVs, but also the use of on-board batteries as energy storage and their reuse for secondary purposes.
