Nissan plans will have positive impact in Midlands

NEWS that Nissan will build the new Invitation model car at its plant in Sunderland has been welcomed by a Midlands manufacturing industry leader.

Nissan says that it will create 2,000 jobs on the production line and in the supply chain and Rachel Eade, supply chain specialist for the Manufacturing Advisory Service, says the Midlands is set to be a beneficiary.

“There are roughly 50 component suppliers in the Midlands that already supply Nissan, so this naturally will be seen as another opportunity to bid for and win new parts,” she said.

“These companies have worked tirelessly to be globally competitive and achieve the exacting standards required by the car manufacturers and are now beginning to be rewarded for their approach.”

Eade believes the Nissan announcement is good news all round.

“Nissan’s Sunderland plant is playing a significant role in the company’s European growth and it is great news for our automotive industry that it is strengthening its presence even further in this country,” she said.

“Development of the ‘Invitation’ sends a simple message to the rest of the world that the UK is a great place to build cars as seen by JLR, BMW and Ford’s recent investments.

“I think it is also important to recognise that the Government has put in a £9.3m grant to make the project possible, evidence that it is backing up its approach to manufacturing with real tangible support.”