Nissan to Transition to EVs in Britain's Automobile Markets

Nissan is investing £1.12 billion ($1.4 billion) to produce electric versions of two of its most popular crossover models at its UK plants, aiming to revive the country and its continuously transitioning car industry with electric vehicles. The Japanese carmaker said it will have to invest up to £2bn in a third battery factory and manufacturing projects in the UK if it plans electric versions of the Qashqai and Juke, which are currently being built at its Sunderland plant.

Japan's third-largest automaker said it will announce the name and launch date of the new EV model at a later date.

"With the introduction of electric versions of the main European models, we are fast approaching a new era for Nissan," CEO Makoto Uchida said in a statement.

Nissan has been building Leaf electric models in Sunderland for many years and will continue to do so. The carmaker also said it would spend $1.4 billion by 2021 to build a second 9 GWh (gigawatt hour) plant in Sunderland with its Chinese partner Envision AESC. There is a small battery factory in the UK  that supplies the Leaf. 

British Chancellor Rishi Sunak says the investment is a big show of confidence in the UK and the car industry, making the UK the best place to do business is at the heart of our economic plan.

Nissan plans to introduce pure electric vehicles in Europe by 2030.