31/01/2008

Car Success Sparks Jobs Boost

The popularity of a new Nissan marque has led to the creation of around 800 new jobs.

The positions will be at the Nissan car plant in Sunderland, thanks to the success of the firm's new Qashqai model.

More than 130,000 of the small 4X4 vehicles have been sold in Europe since the launch in March 2007.

By December of this year, the firm wants to make 400 of the existing staff permanent, with the remainder continuing on temporary contracts.

Nissan launched the Qashqai model at an event hosted in Paris by Carlos Ghosn, Nissan's President and CEO in September of last year.

Trevor Mann, Senior Vice President for manufacturing and supply chain management, Nissan Europe, is delighted with the increase in demand for the new model.

He said: "All of the Sunderland plant's current temporary manufacturing staff will be offered permanent positions with the company on a rolling basis throughout the year, subject to performance and sustained volume."

The plant already employs 4,300 people. Almost five million cars have been produced since production on Wearside began 20 years ago.

(GC)


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