Qashqai SOP - Start of Production
in Sunderland, UK
Photos: Nissan
Nissan’s latest model, the Qashqai,
started rolling off the production line at its plant in
Sunderland on December 5, 2006.
Qashqai is a compact crossover,
combining the best attributes of a traditional family hatchback
with the option of advanced 4x4 capability.
Around 130,000 will be produced in
Sunderland, alongside Note, Primera, Micra and Micra C+C,
potentially increasing total annual volume to around 400,000
units by the end of 2007 – a plant record.
Qashqai’s arrival rounds off one
of Sunderland’s busiest periods in its 20-year history with
three new model launches within the last 16 months.
Vice President of UK
Manufacturing, Trevor Mann, said: “This is a very important day
for our plant as Qashqai will spearhead Nissan’s drive for
sustained, profitable growth in Europe.
“As such, the Sunderland workforce
has been given a great deal of responsibility. But they have
earned the right to build this car through their continued hard
work and excellent track record in terms of productivity and
reliability.
.
.
“I would also like to thank both
national and local government and regional development agencies
for their continued support, as well as the unstinting efforts
of all our suppliers.”
Qashqai represents a total
investment of €322.8 M and will secure more than 3,000 jobs at
the plant and within the regional supply chain. It has also
created 200 temporary and 100 trainee posts at the plant.
Around 80% of Qashqai production will be
exported, the majority for sale within Europe. The car will also be
shipped to numerous overseas markets such as the Middle East, Australia,
South Africa as well as Japan – making it only the second
Sunderland-built model to be exported to the Japanese market. The first
being the 1996 model Primera.
Furthermore, Qashqai is the first new
model to be built down the plant’s recently installed ‘Nissan Integrated
Manufacturing System’. This is a new, flexible line being adopted at
Nissan plants around the world. Its many benefits over a conventional
line include a shorter lead time, improved ergonomics, multi-model,
random sequence production and increased integration with suppliers.
From today, the car will ramp up to full
production volume in just 4 weeks, ensuring dealers across Europe are
fully stocked ready for the car’s start of sale date at the end of
February 2007.
Customers will be able to choose between 3
trim grades and 4 engines options. Two petrol units, a 1.6 and 2.0 litre,
will be available in February, as will a 1.5 diesel. An all-new 2.0
diesel engine will join the line up from April next year.
Prices for all variants will be released
before the end of December
