Embargo: Not for publication or broadcast before Wednesday 18 August
NISSAN’S SUNDERLAND WORKERS EXTEND PRODUCTIVITY LEADOVER EUROPEAN RIVALS
For the third year running, Nissan’s Sunderland car plant has been named Europe’s most efficient, opening up a 28 per cent productivity lead over joint second place car plants run by Volkswagen and General Motors.
The annual survey of European passenger car production carried out by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) shows Nissan’s Sunderland workers now average 105 cars, compared with 98 a year earlier.
In the same survey Volkswagen, Navarra (Spain) and General Motors, Eisenach (Germany) both average 76 cars per employee. Overall car plant productivity in Europe climbed by 11 per cent.
John Cushnaghan, managing director of Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) said: “We are delighted to be the most productive car plant in Europe for the third successive year. The achievement owes everything to the commitment and determination of one of the greatest workforces in the world, and the first class relationships we have developed with our suppliers.”
Nissan in Sunderland is the UK’s biggest car maker, last year it broke its own annual production record by making 288,838 cars. The plant currently produces Micra, Primera and Primera Estate passenger cars and will add a third vehicle, the new Almera, to its model line-up from January 2000.
Nissan’s operations in the UK include vehicle styling, engineering, manufacturing, distribution and sales and industrial machinery. Some 5,400 people are employed directly by Nissan in the UK.
ends …
Editor’s note:
A photograph is available from North News. Please call 0191 233 0223
For further information please contact:
Stewart McKee Manager, corporate affairs 01923 899 930
e-mail: stewart.mckee@nissan.co.uk
Lesley Benfield Press officer, corporate affairs 0191 419 3300
e-mail: lesley.benfield@nissan-nmuk.co.uk
25203A/160899
