Sunderland's decision to vote for Brexit has been justified by the new £1bn investment from Nissan, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng told GB News.
The Japanese car manufacturer will build a new electric model and huge battery plant in the UK in what will be a massive boost for the automotive industry.
More than 1,600 jobs will be created in Sunderland and an estimated 4,500 in supply companies as part of the investment.
Speaking to GB News North East reporter Rachel Sweeney, Mr Kwarteng praised the investment from Nissan and said the "threats" of voting leave had not materialised.
He said: "The confidence they expressed in their own country when they voted for Brexit has been justified.
"All those fears, all that angst, all those threats have amounted to nothing.
"Nissan have been here for 35 years and they'll be here for many more to come."
Mr Kwarteng also told GB News that Nissan were "seriously impressed" by the skillset of people in the region.
"All this investment means the people here are being trusted. Nissan love being in the north east."
"I think this is a unique opportunity to build skills and make us greener. They're bringing investment and putting teesside on the map, there's no doubt about that."
He added that the north east was the heartland of the green industrial revolution.
All those fears, all that angst, all those threats have amounted to nothing
"They're bringing investment and putting Teesside on the map, there's no doubt about that," he said.
More than £420 million will be invested in building a new-generation all-electric vehicle. The news was warmly welcomed by the Government and unions representing workers in Sunderland. Nissan said its Electric Vehicle (EV) Hub will be a world-first EV manufacturing ecosystem.
The car-maker will partner with Envision AESC, a global company in battery technology, and Sunderland City Council. There will be three interconnected initiatives bringing together electric vehicles, renewable energy and battery production, which Nissan said sets a blueprint for the future of the automotive industry.
Nissan president and chief executive Makoto Uchida said: “This project comes as part of Nissan’s pioneering efforts to achieve carbon neutrality throughout the entire lifecycle of our products.
Nissan's Chief Operating Officer Ashwani Gupta, Patrick Melia Chief Executive Sunderland council and Envision's group Chief Operating Executive Lei Zhang.
Owen Humphreys
“Our comprehensive approach includes not only the development and production of EVs, but also the use of on-board batteries as energy storage and their reuse for secondary purposes.
“Our announcement today comes out of lengthy discussions held within our teams, and will greatly accelerate our efforts in Europe to achieve carbon neutrality. The experience and know-how gained through the project announced today will be shared globally, enhancing Nissan’s global competitiveness.
“Nissan will continue to leverage its strengths in electrification to become a company that continues to provide value to its customers and society.” Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
“Nissan’s announcement to build its new-generation all-electric vehicle in Sunderland, alongside a new gigafactory from Envision AESC, is a major vote of confidence in the UK and our highly skilled workers in the North East.
“Building on over 30 years of history in the area, this is a pivotal moment in our electric vehicle revolution and securing its future for decades to come.
Nissan's Chief Operating Officer Ashwani Gupta announcing that the Japanese car giant is to build a new electric model and huge battery plant in the UK in a massive boost to the automotive industry. Picture date: Thursday July 1, 2021. More than 1,600 jobs will be created in Sunderland and an estimated 4,500 in supply companies under an investment of 1 billion.
Owen Humphreys
“Commitments like these exemplify our ability to create hundreds of green jobs and boost British industry, whilst also allowing people to travel in an affordable and sustainable way so we can eliminate our contributions to climate change.”
Unveiling the Nissan EV36Zero at the Sunderland plant today, Nissan’s chief operating officer, Ashwani Gupta, said: “This is a landmark day for Nissan, our partners, the UK and the automotive industry as a whole. Nissan EV36Zero will transform the idea of what is possible for our industry and set a road map for the future for all.
“We reached a new frontier with the Nissan Leaf, the world’s first mass-market all-electric vehicle. Now, with our partners, Nissan will pioneer the next phase of the automotive industry as we accelerate towards full electrification and carbon neutrality.” \
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “This fantastic investment by Nissan and Envision AESC represents a solemn commitment to the people of Sunderland, bringing further high-skilled jobs and turbocharging our plans to level up the North East.
“This is a huge step forward in our ambition to put the UK at the front of the global electric vehicle race, and further proof, if any was needed, that the UK remains one of the most competitive locations in the world for automotive manufacturing. “I am extremely proud that Nissan has not only reaffirmed its belief in Britain, but is doubling down on its longstanding commitment to our country.
“The cars made in this plant, using batteries made just down the road at the UK’s first at-scale gigafactory, will have a huge role to play as we transition away from petrol and diesel cars and kick-start a domestic electric vehicle manufacturing base.”
File photo dated 05/03/21 of a Nissan Leaf electric car being charged. The Japanese carmaking giant is set to unveil plans to build a huge battery factory, giving a boost to the automotive industry and creating up to 2,000 new jobs. Issue date: Thursday July 1, 2021.
John Walton
Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said: “Today’s announcement of new investment into battery production in Sunderland is great news for the sector, the region and all those employed locally.
“It also demonstrates the UK automotive industry’s commitment to net-zero and that the transition to these new electrified vehicles can be ‘Made In Britain’.
“If we are to build one million electric vehicles by 2030, however, we need more such commitments, with at least 60 GWh of gigafactory capacity in this country by the end of the decade. The future competitiveness of our industry depends on securing these investments but also wider support for manufacturing.
“We need a Build Back Better Fund to help manufacturing transformation, as well as a plan for charging infrastructure that will assure consumers to make the switch to these vehicles.”
Speaking at the Sunderland plant, Unite union general secretary Steve Turner said: “Today is a vital step forward in securing a cleaner, greener future for our industry.
“Nissan and this incredible workforce were determined that Sunderland should lead the pack as we transition to electric vehicles and today they have delivered.
“They have battled for years to convince the Government to support and invest in UK battery manufacturing, and today’s very welcome announcement will bring much-needed job security to the plant and thousands of new skilled jobs to the region.
“Today is their victory and I am so proud of the role our union, Unite, played in supporting them every step of the way.
“But this fantastic first must not be the last.
“We need at least another six gigafactories to secure the UK’s future as a green auto manufacturer, with investment in the domestic manufacture of the high-value components all urgently needed to successfully transition this industry and consumers away from the combustion engine.”
Ed Miliband, shadow business secretary, said: “Labour called for more gigafactories, and we warmly welcome this announcement from Nissan.
“But ministers cannot be complacent. Only this week, the SMMT said that the Government was falling behind our competitors and the Faraday Institution estimates we need seven gigafactories by 2040.
“That’s why Labour has said we would increase government investment from £400 million to up to £1.5 billion, part-financing three additional gigafactories by 2025.”