Nissan set to build Chery vehicles at Sunderland plant

Nissan and Chinese carmaker Chery have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to build Cherys Omoda and Jaecoo passenger cars at Nissan's Sunderland plant in northeastern England. The Sunderland site would remain owned by Nissan, with its current production team employed by Nissan, while Chery would use a spare production line to assemble its vehicles. If the deal proceeds, Chery models could roll off the line in the 2027 financial year. Nissan announced in May a consolidation of manufacturing onto a single line to assess opportunities for full plant utilisation, a move linked to capacity optimization and sector restructuring. Sunderland employs about 6,000 people; a wider European reshaping could affect roughly 900 jobs even as Sunderland details remain unconfirmed. Massimiliano Messina, Nissan chair, called the development an important step forward and signaled intent to finalise a position with Chery International UK in coming months. The agreement is non-binding and discussions continue with no further details disclosed; Unite welcomed the potential for UK workers while urging policy considerations around the ZEV mandate to sustain plant utilisation.