Nissan has unveiled the third-generation Leaf, its flagship electric vehicle, which will be built in the UK at the company’s Sunderland plant as part of a major push towards sustainable, UK-based EV production.
The updated Leaf will offer up to 375 miles (604km) of range on a single charge, and customers will be able to place orders later this year, the Japanese manufacturer confirmed. The car will be powered by batteries produced by AESC UK, Nissan’s long-standing battery partner whose facility sits adjacent to the Wearside assembly plant.
The launch marks a milestone for the EV36Zero project—Nissan’s blueprint for EV manufacturing and sustainability—which will bring the new Leaf to market with a focus on reducing emissions across the entire supply chain.
The Sunderland facility, which currently produces the Juke and Qashqai models, employs more than 6,000 people and has been at the centre of Nissan’s UK operations for nearly four decades. The factory first began building the Leaf in 2013, making it the first mass-produced electric vehicle to be manufactured in Britain.
“It’s with immense pride that we unveil the third generation of our pioneering electric Leaf, 12 years after we brought EV and battery manufacturing to the UK,” said Alan Johnson, senior vice president of manufacturing and supply chain management at Nissan Motor Manufacturing.
“It’s a testament to the skill of our world-class team that we can bring into mass production a vehicle with such advanced technology and aerodynamic design.”
The announcement also signals Nissan’s confidence in the UK as a hub for future vehicle manufacturing amid ongoing questions over post-Brexit trade and the competitive pressure of global EV production. The new Leaf is the first vehicle to launch under Nissan’s EV36Zero strategy, which aims to integrate EV production with battery supply and renewable energy use on-site.
Earlier this year, £1 billion of investment was secured for a second AESC battery plant in Sunderland, bolstering the UK’s capacity to support next-generation electric vehicles.
James Taylor, managing director of Nissan GB, said the new model built on the Leaf’s legacy as a trailblazer for electric motoring in the UK.
“Leaf is a pioneering electric vehicle that has encouraged thousands to make the switch to electric motoring — and best of all, it’s built here in Britain,” he said.
The new Leaf is expected to feature cutting-edge aerodynamics, an updated design, and enhanced connectivity features, with full specifications to be confirmed ahead of its release.
Nissan’s announcement comes at a critical time for the UK automotive industry, which is under pressure to scale up EV production and battery supply chains ahead of the 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel cars. The firm’s continued investment in UK manufacturing has been widely seen as a vote of confidence in the country’s industrial base.
As global competition intensifies, Nissan’s Sunderland expansion and the new Leaf rollout will play a key role in the UK’s ability to remain competitive in the electric vehicle revolution.
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Nissan unveils new electric car to be built in UK