A CAR-maker is creating 50 North-East jobs as it embarks on a three-year programme to launch new vehicles.

Nissan, in Sunderland, which employs more than 6,000 workers, wants maintenance technicians and engineers to work on its Note, Qashqai and Infiniti models.

Earlier this year, the Japanese firm, whose Sunderland factory became the first in UK car industry history to make more than 500,000 cars, in 2012, began making the Leaf, the world's first mass-market electric vehicle, for the European market.

That £420m investment will create 560 jobs and 1,500 posts at North-East supply companies.

The five-seater hatchback can travel about 125 miles on a single charge, with its batteries made at a plant next to Nissan's factory.

The jobs drive comes after Nissan last year took on 150 engineers and technicians, to meet increasing demand for its Qashqai and Juke crossover models.

Kevin Fitzpatrick, Nissan’s vice-president for UK manufacturing, said: “We have set a new production record in each of the last three years and we have launched some truly innovative products in that time from Sunderland, like the Juke Nismo and the Leaf.

“These new specialist roles will help us build on this success and launch the next new models.

“This is a very exciting period to join Nissan for anyone looking to further their career with a global automotive brand."