THE whole country can be proud of the success of Nissan’s record-breaking factory in Sunderland, Prime Minister David Cameron said yesterday.
Mr Cameron, giving a speech at the plant to mark the official start of UK production of the all-electric LEAF, said it was a ‘huge privilege’ to be there.
He added: ‘This plant, all of the people who work here, the cars being produced behind me, are the best possible rebuke to those who say in Britain we don’t design things any more, we don’t make things any more.
‘You have shown here at Nissan in Sunderland that we can and we can do it brilliantly.’
Mr Cameron also got the chance to take part in a traditional Japanese ceremony, when he coloured in the eye of a Daruma doll, which former prime minister Margaret Thatcher had done when the plant first opened.
The first eye had been coloured in when work began on the new building where batteries for the LEAF are made.
‘It’s a great day for Nissan in Sunderland,’ said Mr Cameron.
‘You are the most efficient car plant in Europe and you are one of the most efficient car plants in the world.
‘It’s also a great day for our country. You have produced over seven million cars. It’s an incredible record which you can be very proud of. And the whole country can be proud too.’
The journalists and employees present were shown a video that explained the history of Nissan’s electric vehicles.
The Prime Minister, who had already been given a tour of the plant, then arrived in the passenger seat of the new LEAF as he was driven into the press conference.
Huge boost
After speaking at the launch he was then taken to the canteen where he had lunch with some of the employees.
Nissan’s executive vice president Andy Palmer said: ‘The Nissan LEAF is our most technically advanced car yet and the launch of this new model, built along with its batteries in Sunderland, is a huge boost not only for the plant but for British manufacturing.
‘We could not have reached this point without the support and commitment we have enjoyed from governments across Europe, especially the British Government.’