Nissan Leaf production reaches landmark

Nissan’s Leaf has overtaken Bluebird production at the company’s Sunderland plant in the UK.

Bluebird production totalled 187,178 units from 1986 to 1990 and it took more than 22 hours for each Bluebird to be built – but 35 years later the Nissan Leaf can be produced in 10 hours with 195,380 units now manufactured.

“Leaf overtaking Bluebird is a landmark – but there are many more to come for our team at the plant as our electrified line-up grows,” Nissan Sunderland Plant manufacturing vice president Alan Johnson says.

“Bluebird was an iconic model for the plant and evokes fond memories among all Nissan enthusiasts.

“Leaf volumes overtaking Bluebird shows how dramatically our manufacturing innovation, skills and processes have evolved as we drive towards electrification.”

Switching from wheel nuts and carburettors to electrical architecture and cyber security, Nissan says its commitment to quality hasn’t changed.

Staff employed at the Sunderland plant have grown from 430 in 1986 to 6000, with 19 staff who started in 1986 still working today on the Nissan Leaf.

The first car off the line, Bluebird Job 1, is the centrepiece of a local museum display commemorating the significance of that first vehicle.

The Nissan Leaf has already entered the history books with the 500,000th Leaf recently produced in Sunderland. There are now more than half a million Leafs on the road globally.

By the early 2030s every all-new Nissan vehicle offering in key markets will be electrified.

It recently announced plans for renewable energy generation expansion at Sunderland.