NORTH EAST
AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR

The North East is one of the most established and productive manufacturing sectors in Europe, home to Nissan and an abundance of other thriving manufacturing giants including Hitachi, Cummins, Komatsu, Caterpillar and Liebherr.

The region produces 30% of all UK passenger vehicles, which includes 20% of all battery electric vehicles across Europe and 350,000 engines per year. Furthermore, three of the UK’s top five off-highway manufacturers are based here and produce 10% of all UK non-highway vehicles.

The region produces 30% of all UK passenger vehicles

20% of all battery electric vehicles across Europe

10% of all UK non-highway vehicles

SUPPLY CHAIN

The North East stands as a global hub for automotive manufacturing, proudly homing the UK’s largest car plant, in addition to three of the nation’s top five off-highway manufacturers, all supported by an internationally renowned supply chain. With 34 esteemed first-tier suppliers, a vibrant community of innovative SMEs, 21 cutting-edge R&D centres, and a robust business support network, indeed the region thrives as a powerhouse of automotive excellence.

Employing over 30,000 skilled individuals, driving an impressive £7.4 billion in exports annually, and also boasting an enviable turnover of £11 billion, the North East automotive sector undoubtedly shines as a beacon of success and potential.

Looking to the future, electrification emerges as a linchpin in the Government’s ambitious Net Zero mission by 2050, offering a profound opportunity for the North East of England.

With electrification roots that stretch back to the 1920s, no other region in the UK can rival the North East’s rich history and expertise in this crucial area. The region stands poised at the forefront, undeniably ready to embrace this transformative journey towards sustainability and innovation.

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NISSAN

The region is home to the largest and most successful passenger vehicle plant in the UK, Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK, Sunderland.

Over 10m cars since the launch in 1986.
More than £6bn invested by Nissan into the Sunderland Plant.
More than £2bn contributed by Nissan to the UK economy annually since 2006.
30% of all UK manufactured cars are built in Sunderland.
80% of vehicles are exported.
Export to 100+ markets globally.
6,000 jobs at the Sunderland Plant.
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BATTERIES

The region produces 20% of all battery electric vehicles across Europe and is home to Europe’s most successful Electric Vehicle (EV), the Nissan LEAF, along with Europe and the UK’s first Gigaplant from AESC UK.

The UK’s largest lithium-ion battery producer.
The UK’s first large scale gigafactory is in build stage. A second state-of-the-art gigafactory from AESC UK, announced in 2021, with 16GWh capacity and located on the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP) in Sunderland.
In November 2023, Nissan announced it will build a third gigafactory to produce batteries for the vehicles, all of which will be powered by renewable energy.
The EV36Zero hub in Sunderland, Nissan’s blueprint for future manufacturing, will produce three new all-electric vehicles, supplied by three gigafactories and £3bn of investment in the UK.
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KOMATSU UK

Komatsu UK is part of the Global Komatsu organisation, which is the world’s second largest manufacturer and supplier of construction and mining equipment and has proudly been providing high-quality reliable products for a century. Komatsu’s head office is in Tokyo, and there are 255 companies in the Global Group, in which a total of over 62,000 people are employed.

Employs over 500 staff at Birtley.
An extensive product portfolio, featuring 17 models.
Exports mainly to Europe and North Africa.
As the construction industry embraces sustainability, the Komatsu PC210E all electric machine, leads the way towards cleaner, more energy-efficient practices.
The UK plant at Birtley was officially opened in 1987 by HRH The Prince of Wales.
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The region is home to Europe’s most successful Electric Vehicle (EV), the Nissan LEAF, Europe’s first Giga battery manufacturing facility, and has full Power Electronics, Motors and Drives (PEMD) capability.

Nissan’s EV36Zero initiative, a visionary £1 billion Electric Vehicle (EV) Hub, sets a powerful course towards carbon neutrality while laying the foundation for Nissan’s ground-breaking approach to future manufacturing. By integrating EV and battery production with renewable energy sources and a steadfast commitment to achieving zero emissions driving and manufacturing processes, this transformative initiative not only propels the journey towards sustainability but also cements the region’s standing as the premier destination for vehicle electrification in the UK.

The North East is at the forefront of the UK’s electric revolution. In 2021, investments from Turntide and Peak Resources underscored the region’s leadership in this field.

Bolstered by research and development powerhouses like the Driving the Electric Revolution (DER) Industrialisation Centre North East and the Advanced Propulsion Centre, the region is a hub of innovation in electric vehicle technology. The Advanced Propulsion Centre, a UK Government-funded initiative, has an Electric Machine spoke at Newcastle University. Furthermore, 17 of the 21 automotive-related research centres in the North East are dedicated to electrification.

These bold steps reinforce the North East’s position as a vanguard of innovation and progress, showcasing a dedication to shaping a cleaner, more sustainable automotive industry for the future.

NORTH EAST ENGLAND

The North East of England, with its manufacturing heritage, is at the forefront in developing the technologies committed to supporting decarbonisation and leading the drive for Net Zero.

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