North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has hailed 2026 as a turning point for electric vehicles in the region, as production starts on the new Nissan LEAF and more than 1,000 new charging points begin to be rolled out in cities, towns and villages.
Mayor Kim today said the North East’s automotive sector will receive £50m in new funding, secured from the Government to protect and grow jobs by backing supply chain firms to maximise the opportunities from EV transition.
The North East is growing the number of EV charge points faster than anywhere else in the UK, with Mayor Kim investing £22m to install more than 1,000 in the coming years, alongside a new Government scheme to help residents without off street parking to fit cross pavement channels, allowing them to safely charge vehicles from their homes.
Mayor Kim is also supporting bus companies to double the size of the EV fleet in the North East in the next six months. This forms part of Mayor Kim’s ambition to see the whole bus fleet go electric within a decade, an aim supported by an agreement with Hitachi signed in Tokyo last month to work together on the infrastructure and technology needed.
And a flagship new charging station opens in the region on Tuesday afternoon, enabling more drivers access to ultra-fast charging in prime locations.
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, said: “The start of production for the new Nissan LEAF is a landmark day for our car industry, but it also comes at a turning point for EV in the North East which we are backing with £50 million of new investment.
“We’re not just talking about the future of transport – we’re building it right here and that means jobs for local people while we make it easier for car owners to switch to EV. Drivers can get a £3,750 subsidy from the Government on buying a new LEAF and that’s a real boost for workers at Nissan and its supply chain.
“We are installing new charge points in the North East faster than anywhere else in the UK. We are delivering on our promise to install more than 1,000 new EV charge points and that’s happening right now in places like Berwick, Otterburn and Spennymoor.
“We will also work with bus companies to double the number of electric buses to give passengers a smoother, cleaner ride, starting with busy routes to and from Chester-le-Street, Metrocentre and Gateshead in the new year. I want to see every bus in the North East go electric within 10 years.”
Industry Minister Chris McDonald MP, said: “With this funding we’re backing electric vehicle manufacturing in both the North East and West Midlands to succeed – shoring up our supply chains, securing local jobs and creating new opportunities in local communities.
“Through our modern Industrial Strategy we’re giving the car sector the tools it needs to thrive, and working in partnership with business and local government to ramp up EV manufacturing across the country as we drive forward the net zero transition.”
Full details of today’s developments on EVs include:
- Production of the all new Nissan LEAF has begun today (16 December) at the company’s Sunderland factory. The new model will help secure thousands of jobs across the region and the wider supply chain, and reinforces the North East’s reputation as a world-class hub for advanced manufacturing. The Government announced last month the the LEAF would be part of the UK Government’s £3,750 Electric Car Grant (ECG).
- The Department for Business and Trade has today announced a £50 million Electric Vehicle Cluster Fund for the North East. This investment will help businesses transition to producing EV components, strengthen our supply chain, and ensure that local firms are ready to seize the opportunities of the green economy. It’s about creating high skilled jobs, supporting innovation, and making sure the North East leads the way in the industries of the future.
- The North East Combined Authority has an ongoing programme to install EV charging points in locations where homeowners and businesses might otherwise struggle to do this. More than 1,000 chargers will begin to be installed in the coming year including places such as village centres and housing estates.
- The electric buses are backed by funding from HM Government’s Levelling Up Fund and the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) 2 scheme.