--- title: "Nissan to invest £170m in Sunderland plant for new Kicks SUV" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/business/nissan-to-invest-170m-in-sunderland-plant-for-new-kicks-suv" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/nissan-to-invest-170m-in-sunderland-plant-for-new-kicks-suv" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/business/nissan-to-invest-170m-in-sunderland-plant-for-new-kicks-suv.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/nissan-to-invest-170m-in-sunderland-plant-for-new-kicks-suv" category: "Business & Economy" area: "United Kingdom" published: "2026-09-16T10:05:28.960Z" source_reported: "2026-09-16T09:23:17.000Z" updated: "2026-09-16T10:05:28.960Z" trust_score: 60 critic_score: 65 hype_score: 20 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-16T12:15:16.690419+00:00" --- # Nissan to invest £170m in Sunderland plant for new Kicks SUV *The hybrid model will be produced in the UK for the European market.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 60 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to Nissan, with investment figures and location specified by multiple outlets. - Craft 65 of 100, higher is better. Reporting includes quotes from a government minister and mentions of previous concerns about the plant. - Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. Language is largely factual, with a focus on the investment and new model announcement. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Nissan will invest £170 million in its Sunderland plant to produce the Kicks e-POWER hybrid SUV for Europe. - The Kicks e-POWER will be manufactured in Sunderland alongside the Qashqai, Juke, and LEAF models. - The investment comes as the Sunderland plant celebrates its 40th anniversary. - The European version of the Kicks will use the third generation of Nissan's e-POWER hybrid system. Nissan will invest £170 million in its Sunderland plant to produce the Kicks e-POWER hybrid SUV for the European market. The new model will be manufactured at the UK facility alongside the Qashqai, Juke, and LEAF. The announcement coincides with the Sunderland plant's 40th anniversary. The European Kicks will feature the third generation of Nissan's e-POWER hybrid system, where the electric motor exclusively drives the wheels and an internal combustion engine generates electricity. This system is designed for lower consumption and emissions. Globally, the Kicks model has sold over 1.8 million units across more than 70 markets. ## Disagreement on production timeline While Nissan announced the investment and production of the Kicks e-POWER at its Sunderland plant, the timeline for production has not been provided by the company. One report noted that the commitment is concrete, but the production date and expected volume are not specified. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated digests mention the specific details of the third generation e-POWER hybrid system, nor do they state that the Kicks has sold over 1.8 million units globally. ## Who covered it Shares of the 10 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 13% (1) - Centre: 74% (8) - Right: 13% (1) 24 of 34 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-16T12:15:16.690419+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 10 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-16T12:30:30.521Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Il Fatto Quotidiano reported that the new Kicks e-POWER will be produced in Sunderland, joining the Qashqai, Juke, and LEAF. The outlet highlighted the £170 million investment for the new model, noting it is the tenth Nissan model to be built at the Sunderland site. It also detailed the third generation e-POWER system, explaining that the electric motor drives the wheels while the combustion engine generates power, meaning no plug-in charging is necessary. The report mentioned that the Kicks has sold over 1.8 million units globally and that the Sunderland plant is celebrating its 40th anniversary. ### Centre - Centre-rated reports focused on Nissan's investment of £170 million to build the new Kicks e-POWER hybrid SUV for Europe at its Sunderland plant. Several outlets noted that the model would be produced alongside the Qashqai, Juke, and electric LEAF. The Sunderland plant's 40th anniversary was mentioned, with one report stating the investment helps secure jobs. Some reports referenced past concerns over the plant's future and Nissan's restructuring efforts. The third generation of Nissan's e-POWER hybrid system was also mentioned. One report stated that the Kicks crossover has sold 1.8 million units globally. ### Right - GB News reported that Nissan is investing £170 million to produce a new model in Sunderland, providing a boost to UK industry. The report stated that production of the Nissan Kicks will take place at the Sunderland factory, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary. The Kicks has been revealed by the Japanese manufacturer as it looks to expand its offering in the UK and across Europe. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 1 - high: 8 - unknown: 24 - veryHigh: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Revista Merca2.0](https://merca20.com/nissan-kicks-e-power-europa-ventas) — Nissan Kicks E-POWER Arrives in Europe After Selling 1.8 Million - [Habertürk](https://haberturk.com/ekonomi/nissan-kicks-turkiye-yolunda-3912868) — Nissan Kicks E-POWER Is Coming to Turkey! Investment Decision for the New Hybrid SUV. - [The Shields Gazette](https://shieldsgazette.com/business/ps170m-investment-in-new-nissan-vehicle-at-sunderland-plant-helps-secure-6000-jobs-9063373) — £170m investment in new Nissan vehicle at Sunderland plant helps secure 6,000 jobs - [insurance-edge.net](https://insurance-edge.net/2026/09/16/nissan-renault-invests-in-sunderland-plant-with-new-model-announced) — Nissan-Renault Invests in Sunderland Plant With New Model Announced - [BBC News](https://bbc.com/news/articles/c6kg0vv4ynvzo) — Nissan announces £170m investment in Sunderland for Kicks model - [FleetPoint](https://fleetpoint.org/nissan/nissan-invests-170m-in-sunderland-to-build-new-kicks-e-power) — Nissan invests £170m in Sunderland to build new Kicks e-POWER - [Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology International](https://electrichybridvehicletechnology.com/news/nissan-invests-170m-in-uk-sunderland-plant-to-build-european-kicks-hybrid.html) — Nissan invests £170m in UK Sunderland plant to build European Kicks hybrid - [economiematin.fr](https://economiematin.fr/nissan-va-injecter-200-millions-euros-usine) — Nissan Will Inject €200 Million Into Its UK Plant - [Klix](https://klix.ba/auto/nissan-kicks-e-power-stize-u-evropu-proizvodit-ce-se-u-velikoj-britaniji/260916076) — Nissan Kicks E-Power Is Coming to Europe, It Will Be Produced in Great Britain - [ts2.tech](https://ts2.tech/en/nissan-brings-kicks-e-power-to-sunderland-with-up-to-170-million-but-no-production-date) — Nissan Brings Kicks e-POWER to Sunderland With Up to £170 Million, but No Production Date - [Motor Trader](https://motortrader.com/motor-trader-news/automotive-news/nissan-invests-179-in-sunderland-plant-to-build-b-segment-kicks-model-16-09-2026) — Nissan invests £170m in Sunderland plant to build Kicks model - [4troxoi.gr](https://4troxoi.gr/epikairotita/kosmos/nissan-kicks-eyropi-b-suv-me-yvridiko-e-power) — Nissan Kicks Comes to Europe: B-SUV with E-Power Hybrid System - [Motor1.com](https://it.motor1.com/news/808431/nissan-kicks-e-power-europa) — A New Small Hybrid SUV Arrives in Europe: Nissan Kicks E-Power - [Magyar Nemzet](https://magyarnemzet.hu/auto-motor-2/2026/09/olcso-vitara-rivalist-hoz-europaba-a-nissan) — Nissan Brings Cheap Vitara Rival to Europe - [Sunderland Echo](https://sunderlandecho.com/business/ps170m-investment-in-new-nissan-vehicle-at-sunderland-plant-helps-secure-6000-jobs-9063373) — £170m investment in new Nissan vehicle at Sunderland plant helps secure 6,000 jobs - [dailymail.com](https://dailymail.com/money/cars/article-16135371/Nissan-Sunderland-factory-Kicks-built-global-markets-UK-plant.html) — Nissan Kicks to be built at UK plant and secure thousands of jobs - [Reuters](https://reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/nissan-build-new-hybrid-suv-model-europe-its-uk-plant-2026-09-16) — Nissan to build new hybrid SUV model for Europe at its UK plant - [Newsit.gr](https://newsit.gr/auto/i-nissan-lansarei-to-yvridiko-kicks-e-power-stin-eyropi/4775549) — Nissan Launches Kicks E-POWER Hybrid in Europe - [GB News](https://gbnews.com/lifestyle/cars/uk-industry-nissan-kicks-production-sunderland) — UK industry receives huge boost as Nissan invests £170million to produce new model in Sunderland - [transportandenergy](https://transportandenergy.com/2026/09/16/nissan-launches-new-model-to-be-built-in-sunderland) — Nissan launches new model to be built in Sunderland - [Il Fatto Quotidiano](https://ilfattoquotidiano.it/2026/09/16/nissan-kicks-e-power-il-crossover-arriva-in-europa-sara-prodotto-a-sunderland/8507836) — Nissan Kicks E-POWER in Europe: Will Be Produced in Sunderland - [Industry Europe](https://industryeurope.com/sectors/transportation/nissan-announces-a-new-model-for-europe-with-production-plan) — Nissan announces a new model for Europe, with production planned for Sunderland, UK - [Motor.es](https://motor.es/noticias/nissan-kicks-europa-hibrido-e-power-suv-2026116446.html) — Nissan Confirms Kicks for Europe: It Will Be E-POWER Hybrid and Will Be Manufactured Alongside Juke and Qashqai - [Motor Trade News](https://motortradenews.com/electric-vehicles/nissan-invests-170m-to-build-kicks-e-power-at-sunderland-plant) — Nissan invests £170m to build Kicks e-POWER at Sunderland plant - [SMMT](https://smmt.co.uk/smmt-statement-on-nissan-announcement) — SMMT statement on Nissan announcement - [electriccarsreport.com](https://electriccarsreport.com/2026/09/nissan-kicks-e-power-coming-to-europe-built-in-uk) — Nissan Kicks e-POWER Coming to Europe - [Noticias ao Minuto](https://noticiasaominuto.com/auto/3052130/nissan-investe-milhoes-para-trazer-suv-compacto-hibrido-para-a-europa) — Nissan Invests Millions to Bring Hybrid Compact SUV to Europe - [autoevolution](https://autoevolution.com/news/nissan-is-bringing-the-kicks-crossover-to-europe-to-make-it-in-the-uk-275641.html) — Nissan Is Bringing the Kicks Crossover to Europe, To Make It In the UK - [Kyodo News+](https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/85299) — Nissan to invest 170 mil. pounds in U.K. plant to produce Kicks - [Haberler](https://haberler.com/otomobil/nissan-sunderland-de-yeni-hibrit-suv-uretimi-icin-20241245-haberi) — Nissan Will Invest £170 Million in Sunderland to Produce Its New Hybrid SUV. - [Unknown](https://sankei.com/article/20260916-TAXKDKS6FVKHPHQEWIGP3HIBXY) — Nissan Invests 35.5 Billion Yen in Its Sunderland Plant in Central England to Produce the New Kicks SUV. - [Channel News Asia](https://channelnewsasia.com/business/nissan-build-new-hybrid-suv-model-europe-its-uk-plant-6387521) — Nissan to build new hybrid SUV model for Europe at its UK plant - [PressNewsAgency](https://pressnewsagency.org/nissan-to-build-new-hybrid-suv-model-for-europe-at-its-uk-plant) — Nissan to build new hybrid SUV model for Europe at its UK plant - [Chronicle Live](https://chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/nissan-sunderland-170m-investment-produce-34623560) — Nissan Sunderland to get £170m investment to produce new model ## Questions **How much is Nissan investing in the Sunderland plant?** Nissan is investing £170 million in its Sunderland plant. This investment is for the production of the new Kicks e-POWER hybrid SUV for the European market. **What models will be produced at the Sunderland plant?** The Sunderland plant will produce the new Kicks e-POWER hybrid SUV for Europe. It will be manufactured alongside the existing Qashqai, Juke, and LEAF models. **What is the e-POWER system in the new Kicks model?** The European version of the Kicks will use the third generation of Nissan's e-POWER hybrid system. In this system, an electric motor exclusively drives the wheels, while an internal combustion engine generates electricity for the motor. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/business/nissan-to-invest-170m-in-sunderland-plant-for-new-kicks-suv. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Nissan to invest £170m in Sunderland plant for new Kicks SUV", https://mediabias.news/business/nissan-to-invest-170m-in-sunderland-plant-for-new-kicks-suv