- Nissan announces pilot activity for Sunderland plant to return 50 people to work (less than 1% of total workforce)
- Pilot being run in accordance with public health advice and supported by employee representatives following extensive risk assessments and benchmarking with other manufacturers
SUNDERLAND, UK (April 22nd, 2020) – Like the rest of the automotive industry, Nissan is looking forward to resuming business as soon as circumstances across Europe allow. The industry is currently working with very limited visibility on future market conditions, however some activities are now being planned.
Nissan has spent recent weeks carrying out extensive risk assessments and benchmarking with other manufacturers around the world, to put in place a comprehensive set of safety measures to protect the health and wellbeing of employees.
In Sunderland, the new safety protocols will be implemented in a pilot activity involving the Powertrain team which will begin this week, in accordance with public health advice and supported by employee representatives. This will initially involve around 50 people, less than 1% of the plant’s total workforce.
Regular reviews will take place throughout each phase of this pilot, taking into account the feedback from the teams involved. This will inform the return to work protocols for the rest of the factory in the coming weeks. No date has been announced yet for the resumption of vehicle production.
Vehicle production has been suspended in the UK since March 17th. Across the business the company is following all the regulations and advice from national governments and has implemented a range of measures to ensure the welfare of employees and communities.
Nissan teams have been supporting any initiatives where their manufacturing and engineering expertise can be useful. These have included production and distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) to frontline workers in the UK.
Nissan is also grateful for the financial assistance offered by national governments to support our 15,000 direct employees in Europe, our partner companies and suppliers. Our goal is to navigate through this crisis while maintaining activities critical for business continuity and to make sure we are prepared for the time when business resumes across Europe and we can welcome the Nissan team back to work.
Production has also been suspended at Nissan’s Spanish plants since March 13th. Vehicle production will restart first in Barcelona, where we plan to restart with pickups on Line 2 and in the Powertrain Plant, along with the Montcada and Sant Andreu plants, on May 4th. Some projects will restart in Cantabria and Avila on April 27th. The management team in Spain is working with the Local Works Councils in those plants on the new measures and procedures required to ensure a safe restart.
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Ben Guy
Communications Manager, Nissan Sunderland Plant
Tel: (+44)07779 783652
E: ben.guy@nissan-nmuk.co.uk
For further information please contact:
David Jackson
Communications Director, NMGB
Tel: (+44)07966 878665
E: david.jackson@nissan.co.uk
Lucy Banwell
Press Officer, Nissan Sunderland Plant
Tel: (+44)07743 859930
E: Lucy.Banwell@nissan-nmuk.co.uk
About Nissan in Europe
Nissan has one of the most comprehensive European presences of any overseas manufacturer, employing more than 16,000 staff across locally based design, research & development, manufacturing, logistics and sales & marketing operations. In 2019, Nissan plants in the UK, Spain and Russia produced about 465,000 vehicles including award-winning crossovers, commercial vehicles and the Nissan LEAF. Pursuing a goal of zero emissions and zero fatalities on the road, Nissan is leading the field with its vision of Intelligent Mobility. Designed to guide Nissan’s product and technology pipeline, this 360 degree approach to the future of mobility will anchor critical company decisions around how cars are powered, how cars are driven, and how cars integrate into society.
About Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
Nissan is a global full-line vehicle manufacturer that sells more than 60 models under the Nissan, INFINITI and Datsun brands. In fiscal year 2018, the company sold 5.52 million vehicles globally, generating revenue of 11.6 trillion yen. Nissan’s global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, manages operations in six regions: Asia & Oceania; Africa, the Middle East & India; China; Europe; Latin America; and North America. Nissan has partnered with French manufacturer Renault since 1999 and acquired a 34% stake in Mitsubishi Motors in 2016. The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance sold 10.76 million vehicles combined in calendar year 2018.
For more information about our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit
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