A NISSAN plant in the region produced more cars in 2004 than any other factory in the UK for the seventh successive year.

Figures compiled by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed that the Sunderland plant's total of 319,652 Micras, Almeras and Primeras was about 75,000 cars higher than the next-largest manufacturer.

Later this year, the workforce of 4,100 will pass another manufacturing milestone when the four-millionth car rolls off the production line.

Last week, Nissan announced that its Sunderland plant, which is also Europe's most productive car factory, had been chosen to build a compact 4X4 vehicle from December next year.

The car will be the third new model to be launched at the plant in only 16 months, following the start of production of the Micra C+C cabriolet this autumn, and a mini-MPV in January.

The new cars could see the plant's annual production volume rise to about 400,000 vehicles by 2007.

Managing director of Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Colin Dodge said: "I'm pleased that our plant is the biggest in the UK and that we are set to become even busier in the years ahead.

"This is good news for Nissan in Europe, good news for our plant, and good news for the wider supply chain that supports production here."