As Nissan announced plans to slash 20,000 jobs globally and shutter seven manufacturing plants, the future of its Sunderland facility hangs in precarious balance. The Japanese automaker confirmed the restructuring on May 13, 2025, amid staggering financial pressure that saw the company report a net loss of 670.9 billion yen, equivalent to £3.4 billion.
The cuts represent approximately 15% of Nissan’s global workforce, with 65% of reductions targeting manufacturing operations. This latest announcement dramatically expands the original November 2024 plan, which had targeted just 9,000 positions. Vehicle production will simultaneously decrease by 20% as the company attempts to navigate fierce competition from Chinese rivals and delays in electrification strategies.
Nissan’s Sunderland plant, employing around 6,000 workers, faces uncertain prospects despite receiving a seemingly promising £2 billion investment in 2023 for EV production. The North East facility, which reported a £67.2 million pre-tax loss for the year ending March 31, awaits confirmation of its fate as company officials remain tight-lipped about specific closure locations.
Despite a £2 billion EV investment, Nissan’s 6,000-worker Sunderland plant faces uncertainty amid corporate silence on closure decisions.
President and CEO Ivan Espinosa has confirmed some plant closures will occur in Japan, with previously announced consolidations in Argentina, Thailand, and India proceeding as planned. The extensive restructuring aims to cut costs by approximately ¥250 billion by fiscal year 2026.
The Sunderland uncertainty creates a stark contrast to recent investments. Just two years ago, Nissan trumpeted plans for expanding the North East electric vehicle hub with two new EV models. Those announcements had signaled robust commitment to UK manufacturing.
Nissan UK has acknowledged they are “currently in detailed study” regarding which facilities will close, with more information promised “in due course.” A previous government commitment of £100 million for a battery gigafactory may not be enough to secure Sunderland’s future in the wake of these widespread cuts. The company plans to strengthen its European presence by assembling more electrified vehicles in the Sunderland location. The restructuring timeline targets completion by fiscal year 2027, with Nissan characterizing the initiative as an “action-based recovery plan” designed to achieve operating profitability less dependent on volume.
For Sunderland’s workforce, the coming months will determine whether their facility survives Nissan’s dramatic corporate pruning or becomes another casualty of the automaker’s global retrenchment.
