31.01.2008 – 10:02

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

Nissan Sunderland Plant to Create Third Shift

Sunderland, England (ots/PRNewswire)

• Success of Qashqai Leads to 800 new Jobs
• Third Production Shift to be Implemented in Response to Qashqai Demand
• Recruitment to Begin for 800 new Staff
• Over 130,000 Qashqai Models Sold in Europe Since Launch in March 2007
• A record 353,000 Total Units Produced at Nissan's Sunderland Plant in 2007
• The plant is the UK's Largest Car Producer and Exporter

Nissan is to recruit 800 additional staff and implement a third
production shift at its manufacturing plant in Sunderland in response
to a record production year and continuing high demand for the
award-winning Qashqai.

Since its European launch in March 2007, sales of the popular
crossover car have reached 130,000 units and, as a result, last June
Nissan boosted production at Sunderland by 20% to help meet demand.

This contributed to the plant achieving a record annual production
volume of 353,000 units of Qashqai, Note, Micra and Micra C+C in
2007, surpassing its previous volume record of 332,000 set in 2003.

Now with orders still above forecast and a customer order bank of
60,000 units, Sunderland plant has launched one of its largest ever
recruitment campaigns.

By December 2008, 800 additional manufacturing staff will be
recruited. Of these, 400 will be permanent positions, with the
remainder temporary contracts.

In addition, all of the Sunderland plant's current temporary
manufacturing staff will be offered permanent positions with the
company on a rolling basis throughout the year, subject to
performance and sustained volume. These measures will allow
Sunderland to implement a third 'night-time' shift on the line
responsible for Qashqai production.

Trevor Mann, Senior Vice President for Manufacturing & Supply
Chain Management, Nissan Europe, said: "Currently on two shifts, we
can produce 200,000 Qashqais per year. However, the car is proving so
popular we now need to significantly increase our volume.

"Ultimately, how many we produce will be determined by the market,
but we have identified the need for a third shift. This is a
tremendously positive move by Nissan and represents a great vote of
confidence both in the success of Qashqai, and in the Sunderland
workforce who achieved a record production year in 2007.

"Today, this level of recruitment in the Western European car
manufacturing sector is rare, and reflects the ongoing commitment
Nissan has in its UK operation."

In addition to recruitment directly at the plant, it is estimated
that more than 400 new posts will be created throughout Nissan's
local supply base to support the third shift.

Trevor Mann added: "Qashqai sits between the traditional hatchback
and SUV, and therefore offers drivers something genuinely unique. I
believe this is why it continues to outperform sales targets across
all our major European markets.

"Sunderland continues to work extremely hard to deliver customers'
cars as quickly as possible, but Qashqai's popularity is now at a
stage that a third shift has become a viable and sensible measure to
significantly boost production for the European market."

The Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) Chief
Executive, Paul Everitt, commented: "The Qashqai, designed, developed
and manufactured here in the UK, is winning business around the
world. The Nissan team has done a fantastic job and their success
demonstrates the important role of automotive manufacturing to the
regional and national economy."

Bob Symonds, Leader of Sunderland City Council added: "This is
fantastic news for the city and the region. Congratulations to the
management team and the workforce for once again keeping the Nissan
plant in the premier league of car production."

Alan Clarke, One NorthEast Chief Executive, commented: "This is
another chapter in the on-going success story that is Nissan's
Sunderland plant.

"It is further proof of the confidence Nissan has in the factory
and the wider North East economy and is a tribute to its fantastic
employees who help to make it one of Europe's most productive car
plants."

The Qashqai was designed at Nissan Design Europe, situated in
Paddington, London, while technical development was undertaken at its
technical centre in Cranfield, England.

In May last year, the car was awarded the maximum five-star rating
for adult occupant protection from the European New Car Assessment
Programme (Euro NCAP), with the highest ever recorded score for any
vehicle.

Notes to Editors:

SUNDERLAND PLANT FACTS:

• Nissan Sunderland was established in 1984
• The plant now represents more than GBP2.4 Billion of investment
• Total volume since start of production is now 4.8 million units
• Sunderland is the UK's largest car producer and exporter
• Sunderland currently employs 4,200 staff rising to around 5,000 when recruitment is completed
• 2007 Production: Qashqai 164,133 units; Note 92,678 units; Micra 88,533 units; Micra C+C 5,616 units

QASHQAI FACTS

• Nissan's most successful vehicle launch ever
• Launched in Europe March 2007
• Qashqai's Top 5 markets are: UK (18,435) Russia (17,414) Italy (11,965) Germany (11,490) Spain (10,664)
• Qashqai has picked up 14 awards since going on sale

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
    David Swerdlow
    Nissan Sunderland Plant
    +44-191-415-2678
    (mobile +44(0)7747-118-341)
    Email  david.swerdlow@nissan-nmuk.co.uk
    Penny Szczepaniak
    Nissan Europe
    +33-1-30-13-5787
    Email  Pszczepaniak@nissan-europe.com

Contact:

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: David Swerdlow, Nissan
Sunderland Plant, +44-191-415-2678, (mobile +44(0)7747-118-341),
Email david.swerdlow@nissan-nmuk.co.uk; Penny Szczepaniak, Nissan
Europe, +33-1-30-13-5787, Email Pszczepaniak@nissan-europe.com