Prime Minister David Cameron today approved the Automotive Assistance Programme (AAP) grant of £20 million to Nissan to support the production of electric cars.
At Prime Minister’s Questions today, he said the investment for the Sunderland factory would be going ahead, maintaining about 2,250 jobs at Nissan and across the UK supply chain
The funding will support the company’s production of the Nissan LEAF electric vehicle and the lithium-ion batteries that power it – both produced in Sunderland. The guarantee of funding demonstrates the new government’s commitment to a low carbon economy and its support for the UK to be a world leader for the development of new low carbon technologies.
The investment demonstrates industry’s commitment to ultra-low carbon technology and the significant role the UK can play in becoming a world-leader in this field. Electric vehicles, efficient internal combustion engines and hybrids are being developed by manufacturers looking to reduce average fleet CO2 emissions. Through improvements in conventional technology and maintaining investment in alternative fuels, new car CO2 emissions have dropped by over 21% since 1997.
Download the SMMT New Car CO2 Report 2010.
