Nissan this week has started production of its new Nissan Note at its Sunderland Plant, writes Trish Whelan.
Already the UK's biggest ever car plant, the new Note is set to boost production even further in Sunderland following a £125m investment by Nissan, secured for the UK with a £9.3m grant from the UK Government.
The small car has been tailored for European buyers with engineering and development work completed at the Nissan Technical Centre Europe in both the UK and Spain.
It will be launched here at the end of September with prices starting at less than €16,000 in three engines types, a 3-cylinder petrol 1.2 80hp (Band A3); 1.2 DIG-S petrol with 95hp (A2) and 4-cylinder 1.5 dCi diesel 90hp (A2).