Automotive giant Nissan has marked a milestone in its drive towards electric vehicles after production numbers of its Leaf electric car overtook the numbers of Bluebirds it produced at its Sunderland plant.
The factory launched in the 1980s with production of the Bluebird and made 187,178 models over a four-year period.
But now 195,380 Leafs have been manufactured at Sunderland, having first gone into production in 2013.
The plant’s 35-year history has seen its workforce increase from 430 when it first opened to around 6,000 now. 19 employees who worked at the plant when it first opened are still on the staff.
Production time for each vehicle has also been transformed over that time, falling for 22 hours for each Bluebird to 10 hours to make a single Leaf.
Alan Johnson, vice president of manufacturing at Nissan Sunderland Plant, said: “Bluebird was an iconic model for the plant and evokes fond memories among all Nissan enthusiasts.
“Leaf volumes overtaking Bluebird shows how dramatically our manufacturing innovation, skills and processes have evolved as we drive towards electrification.
“Leaf overtaking Bluebird is a landmark – but there are many more to come for our team at the plant as our electrified line up grows.”
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The Leaf is one of three vehicles currently produced at the Sunderland plant, alongside the Qashqai and the Juke.
Other models made at Sunderland over its history include the Primera, Micra, Almera and Note.
Nissan has set itself the goal to achieve carbon neutrality across the company’s operations and the life cycle of its products by 2050. As part of this goal, every new Nissan vehicle offering in key markets will be electrified by the early 2030s.
The company is also hoping to increase its use of renewable energy with an extention to the wind farm at its Sunderland plant.