A North East factory is playing a key role in Nissan's electrification of its UK vehicles.

Electrified versions of two of Nissan's pioneering crossover models are now rolling off the lines at the firm's Sunderland Plant.

The Nissan Qashqai, the record-breaking original crossover, is now offered with Nissan’s unique e-POWER system, a first for the company in Europe.

Its B-segment stablemate, the Nissan Juke, is now equipped with an advanced hybrid powertrain.

These new powertrains have been launched as combined production of the two iconic crossover models has passed five million units in Sunderland.

The Northern Echo: Electrified versions of two of Nissan's pioneering crossover models are now rolling off the lines at the firm's Sunderland Plant Picture: NissanElectrified versions of two of Nissan's pioneering crossover models are now rolling off the lines at the firm's Sunderland Plant Picture: Nissan (Image: Nissan)

Built alongside the Nissan LEAF, these technologies mean every model built by Nissan in the UK now has an electrified version.

Alan Johnson, Nissan’s Vice President for Manufacturing in the UK, said: “With more than five million customers, Qashqai and Juke are two of our plant’s most successful and popular models ever.

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“Both e-POWER and hybrid technologies are firsts for the team in Sunderland, so it’s fantastic to see the electrified versions rolling off our two production lines.”

The two electrified models are part of a previously announced £500m investment by Nissan into the plant to build the current generations of Qashqai and Juke.

The Northern Echo:

New facilities installed include a £10m state-of-the-art Battery Assembly facility, where batteries packs are made for both the e-POWER and hybrid powertrains, before being delivered to be fitted into vehicles.

Building a team that has the skills to deliver the cars of the future requires a huge amount of training.

Since LEAF started production in 2011, staff at Nissan Sunderland Plant have undergone more than two million hours of training dedicated to manufacturing electrified vehicles, with more planned in the coming months and years.

Alan Johnson added: “Our plant is built on the foundations of 36-years of manufacturing excellence from our world-class people and advanced facilities.

“Two million hours of training just for electrification shows we are taking that to the next level, as we lead the charge towards an electrified future.

The Northern Echo: Electrified versions of two of Nissan's pioneering crossover models are now rolling off the lines at the firm's Sunderland Plant Picture: NissanElectrified versions of two of Nissan's pioneering crossover models are now rolling off the lines at the firm's Sunderland Plant Picture: Nissan (Image: Nissan)

“And of course we’ll continue to deliver brilliant, technologically advanced, cars to the high standards of quality that our customers have come to love.”

The launches come after Nissan announced Sunderland Plant as the home of EV36Zero, a £1bn flagship electric vehicle manufacturing ecosystem bringing together electric vehicles, renewable energy and battery production.

Both Qashqai and Juke are designed, engineered and manufactured by Nissan in its UK facilities, supporting more than 7,000 jobs in Paddington, Maple Cross, Cranfield, Lutterworth and Sunderland, as well as a further 30,000 in the wider UK supply chain and about 5,000 in UK dealerships.

The Northern Echo: Qashqai e-POWER Picture: NissanQashqai e-POWER Picture: Nissan (Image: Nissan)

The Northern Echo: Juke Hybrid Picture: NissanJuke Hybrid Picture: Nissan (Image: Nissan)

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