A huge £1 billion investment has just been confirmed to build a new electric car battery factory in Sunderland – and it’s set to bring 1,000 new jobs and power up to 100,000 EVs every year.
The gigafactory will be built at the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP) in Washington and will be the second site in the area run by AESC UK, Nissan’s battery partner. It’s a major step forward for the UK’s green goals and a boost for the North East economy.
This news dropped shortly after the UK signed a trade deal with the US, which included slashing export tariffs for UK-made cars – making it easier and cheaper to ship vehicles abroad.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves visited the site and said the project will "deliver high-quality, well-paid jobs" while also helping to speed up the shift to sustainable transport.
The government is also backing the project with an extra £150 million in grants through the Automotive Transformation Fund. The site had to get special approval because part of it sits on green belt land, but it got the green light in September 2024.
In short: this isn’t just another factory – it’s a key part of the UK’s push toward net zero and a more competitive position in the global EV market.
