NISSAN has pressed the pause button on the production of a popular car in the UK.
Until now the vehicle had been the only mass-market EV built in Britain – but luckily it looks like there’s a swanky replacement lined up.
GettyNissan has announced it’s stopping production of the Nissan Leaf in the UK[/caption]
GettyThe car is a popular choice of electric vehicle for many Brits[/caption]
Nissan confirmed today that it’s stopped making its Leaf electric car in Sunderland saying the Leaf had “reached the end of its lifecycle in Europe.”
It marks the end of a 13 year era for Leaf, which is one of the most affordable family-size electric cars on the market today with pricing starting at £28,495.
The Japanese brand are now putting the wheels in motion for the Leaf’s electric replacement which is due to be rolled out in 2026.
This will be part of a new £2billion investment in EV production at the Sunderland factory.
Nissan says that while production will draw to a halt this week, the car remains on sale and is available to customers as normal through existing stock.
A brand spokesperson told The Daily Mail: “The Leaf has long inspired a loyal following from owners, who highly praise the car’s reliability and ease of ownership.”
They added the motor is an accessible route for anyone wanting to make the switch to an electric car.
Since production of the Leaf began in Japan in 2010 more than 650,000 have been sold globally and over 40,000 in the UK.
270,000 cars were produced at the Sunderland plant, where assembly of Leaf for the European market has taken place since 2013.
A statement provided to The Daily Mail by a Nissan spokesperson announced: “After 13 years of great success, the Nissan Leaf, the world’s first mass-market 100 per cent electric vehicle, is approaching the end of its life cycle in Europe.”
It comes as the final Mini Clubman rolled off the production line at the brand’s Oxfordshire plant after 55 years, marking the end of the road for the “icon”.
Parent company BMW confirmed the news with a statement bidding farewell to the model as well as taking a look forward to the exciting projects yet to come.
Mini boss Stefanie Wurst announced back in September that the Clubman line, which serves as a luxury version of the classic original model, would not be renewed for another generation.
A Final Edition was released last year, but production has now shut down for good.
Dr. Markus Grüneisl, CEO of Plants Oxford and Swindon, said staff were “incredibly proud” to have been part of the model’s run, which dates back over 50 years to 1969.