New Nissan model brings 2,000 jobs to Sunderland

The announcement is to be made at the Geneva motor show today (6 March), where Nissan is unveiling its new model, the Invitation, which is designed to compete with the Ford Fiesta. Business secretary Vince Cable was at the show for the announcement and called it "fantastic news". The government has promised £9 million of Regional Growth Fund money to support the project – Nissan is investing £125 million. Production of the new model will create 400 new jobs within the car plant, with up to 1,600 more being created in the supply chain. The news was welcomed by the CBI. Director-general John Cridland said: "This is brilliant news for jobs in the North East and a real boost for business investment in the UK. "The Nissan Sunderland journey is a remarkable story demonstrating British manufacturing capabilities at their best – excellent training, a committed skilled workforce and brilliant determined leadership." Nissan is one of several businesses in the automotive sector to receive conditional offers from the £2.4 billion Regional Growth Fund. Sunderland-based Unipres UK supplies parts to Nissan, and recently received confirmation it would receive £5 million from the Fund towards a £36 million expansion project. Vantec Europe, another Nissan supplier, has also bid for funds. The company manages most of Nissan's warehousing and needs to expand to accommodate the new model.