Nissan Newbird is a nod to plant’s history
To celebrate 35 years of building cars on Wearside, Nissan has commissioned the one off production of a special version of the Nissan Bluebird – the first car off the factory’s production line in 1986.
While visually the car is in keeping with the original design, the Newbird edition is powered by the engine of a NissanLEAF,thepioneeringelectric vehicle behind the shift in trend towards the electrification of vehicles and travel.
Alan Johnson, Vice President of manufacturing at Nissan
Sunderland, said: “The ‘Newbird’ represents all that is great about our plant – past present and future – as we celebrate 35 years of manufacturing in Sunderland.
“We have a rich heritage of building great cars, right from the original Bluebird model, and our fantastic team is now leading the way as we drive towards an exciting electrified, carbon-neutral, future.”
The company hopes the Newbird design will connect 35 years of manufacturing heritage on Wearside, paying tribute to iconic vehicles of the past while incorporating technology of the present and Nissan’saccelerateddrivetowards electrified travel.
By 2030, the company hopestohavelaunched23new electricmodels,accountingfor half of its global output.
Managing Director at Nissan, Andrew Humberstone, said; “There’s a huge pride in our dealer network that so many of the cars we sell have started life right here in the UK. Nissan’s Sunderland plant hasproduced‘home-grownheroes’formillionsofUKcustomers with models like the Juke, QashqaiandLEAFamongstthe country’s best-sellers.
"This Newbird project is a wonderful tribute to the enduring presence of high-quality manufacturing that Nissan has enjoyed in the UK for more than three decades.”
The special edition Newbird is charged through the original fuel flap, which provides access to the charging port. Fully charged, it has a driving range of around 130 miles and can accelerate from 0to62mphinjustunder15seconds.
Nissan’s Sunderland plant was officially opened in September 1986 and has been in operation ever since. Total outputfrom1986tothepresent daystandsinexcessof10.5million cars.
The number of staff employedattheSunderlandplant has grown from 430 in 1986 to 6,000 today, 19 of whom are still working for the company on the Nissan LEAF.