12 July 2015

Nissan UK Production By Model : 1986-2014

The North East of England is an economically challenged region. With the shipyards having closed the area needed an injection of employment as the region was suffering in that regard. The UK government encouraged Nissan to build there and a large skilled workforce without employment was also a bonus. In the time the plant has been running, there has not been any time lost through industrial disputes. The placement of the plant has been good for both Nissan and the region.

The first Bluebird off the production line at NMUK in 1986

By 1986 the first cars were rolling off the production line but the first two years local content was low so they are not generally counted as UK production. I have added them to the chart below but the figures are not included in any of the totals at the bottom. The model was the Bluebird initially but was soon replaced by the Primera in 1990.

Over the years the plant has had additional investment to expand and become a four model plant. Extra shifts are put on when high demand is experienced, the plant at times three shifts. It is regarded as one of the most efficient car making facilities in Europe.

The Almera was a popular car in Europe

The chart is self explanatory, but a couple of features to note: Green shading on model production data represents the biggest for that year. Under the 'Total' column, Shading changes for each 100,000 mark passed.

Year Qashqai Juke Note Leaf Micra Almera Primera Total
1986 - - - - - - 5,139 5,139
1987 - - - - - - 28,797 28,797
1988 - - - - - - 56,744 56,744
1989 - - - - - - 76,991 76,991
1990 - - - - - - 76,367 76,367
1991 - - - - - - 124,666 124,666
1992 - - - - 37,176 - 141,833 179,009
1993 - - - - 152,722 - 93,559 246,281
1994 - - - - 131,063 - 73,881 204,944
1995 - - - - 125,564 - 89,782 215,346
1996 - - - - 136,504 - 95,123 231,627
1997 - - - - 148,430 - 123,236 271,666
1998 - - - - 159,340 - 129,478 288,818
1999 - - - - 157,143 - 114,014 271,157
2000 - - - - 122,560 115,336 89,805 327,701
2001 - - - - 116,653 121,797 58,030 296,480
2002 - - - - 103,197 97,005 97,131 297,333
2003 - - - - 190,690 86,491 54,743 331,924
2004 - - - - 172,794 93,355 53,503 319,652
2005 - - 231 - 168,958 97,562 48,546 315,297
2006 3,799 - 106,903 - 129,858 30,788 29,863 301,211
2007 164,191 - 92,679 - 88,532 - 8,316 353,718
2008 224,989 - 77,819 - 83,747 - - 386,555
2009 198,841 - 50,880 - 88,429 - - 338,150
2010 271,188 44,622 52,872 - 54,580 - - 423,262
2011 301,277 132,606 46,602 - - - - 480,485
2012 310,837 154,759 44,844 92 - - - 510,532
2013 286,477 147,954 58,901 8,424 - - - 501,756
2014 285,110 132,646 65,143 17,339 - - - 500,238
Total 2046709 612,587 596,874 25,855 2367940 642,334 1,635,611 7927910
Avg 255,839 142,462 66,319 12,928 131,552 101,958 86,085 293,626

Soon two Infiniti models will be added, the first time in decades a new brand has commenced production in the UK. It's nice to see a factory not only be so well run but give a region a much needed financial boost. Nissan is what BL once was, a UK designer and producer of cars. 

It would be only right that Nissan was at the top of sales in the UK, and it is certainly progressing in that regard. What is getting it success in Britain is more the quality and desirability of what is made there. Will any other car maker ever again do what Nissan did and use the UK as a car manufacturing centre? It has certainly worked for Nissan. 

The Note is an important part of Sunderland production

2 comments:

  1. The information is incorrect, Primera wasn't produced until 1990. I can even send you photos from Japan in 89 when we were buying the machines
    !

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    Replies
    1. If you actually had taken the trouble to read the text, you would have your answer.

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