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Nissan has announced that the new Nissan Kicks e-POWER hybrid crossover will be built at its Sunderland Plant in the UK, following a £170 million investment that strengthens the facility’s role in Nissan’s European manufacturing strategy.
The announcement introduces the Nissan Kicks to the European market, expanding the brand’s electrified vehicle line-up with a compact crossover featuring Nissan’s distinctive third-generation e-POWER hybrid technology.
The new model will be manufactured alongside the Nissan Qashqai, Juke and LEAF at Nissan’s Sunderland facility, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2026. The investment also reinforces the importance of UK manufacturing to Nissan’s long-term European operations.
For customers exploring electrified Nissan cars in Scotland, the arrival of the Kicks e-POWER will bring another option to the brand’s expanding range of vehicles, combining electric-motor-driven performance with the convenience of a petrol engine that generates electricity.
The Nissan Kicks is a compact B-segment crossover designed to bring distinctive styling, modern technology and electrified driving to a wider audience.
Already established in international markets, the second-generation Kicks has surpassed 1.8 million sales across more than 70 countries. Its planned European introduction represents a significant expansion of the model’s global presence and adds another hybrid option to Nissan’s regional line-up.
The European model will feature Nissan’s third-generation e-POWER hybrid system, which was introduced in 2025 with improvements aimed at fuel efficiency, emissions and refinement.
Unlike conventional hybrids, Nissan e-POWER uses a petrol engine exclusively to generate electricity, while an electric motor drives the wheels. This delivers the smooth acceleration and responsive feel associated with electric driving without requiring the driver to plug the vehicle into an external charging point.
The Nissan Kicks e-POWER is intended to give customers another way to experience electrified driving, particularly those who want the benefits of electric-motor propulsion alongside the familiarity of refuelling at a petrol station.
Nissan’s e-POWER system takes a different approach to hybrid driving by using electric power to drive the wheels at all times.
The petrol engine generates electricity to power the electric motor and recharge the onboard battery as required. This means the driving experience is closer to that of an electric vehicle than a conventional petrol-electric hybrid, although the vehicle does not need to be connected to a charger.
Key features of Nissan’s e-POWER technology include:
Nissan already manufactures e-POWER versions of the Qashqai at its Sunderland Plant, giving the company established production expertise that can support the introduction of the Kicks.
Since e-POWER launched in 2016, more than 1.9 million vehicles equipped with the technology have been sold globally, including 200,000 UK-built Qashqai e-POWER models, according to Nissan.
The £170 million investment in the Nissan Kicks represents a further commitment to the Sunderland Plant, one of the most significant automotive manufacturing facilities in the UK.
Opened in 1986, the plant celebrated 40 years of production in 2026. It has produced 12 million vehicles since the first Nissan Bluebird rolled off the production line, representing an average of one vehicle every minute and 45 seconds across its operating history.
The Kicks will become the tenth model allocated to Sunderland production since the facility opened. Previous models manufactured at the site include the Bluebird, Primera, Micra, Almera, Note, Infiniti Q30, Juke, Qashqai and LEAF.
Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK has received approximately £5 billion in investment over four decades. The facility employs around 6,000 people directly and supports a further 30,000 jobs across its supply chain, according to the announcement.
Massimiliano Messina, Chairperson of Nissan’s AMIEO Region, said:
“This is fantastic news for our European region and demonstrates the agility and speed with which we can bring new models to new markets.
“Kicks is a compact crossover, with the unique e-POWER hybrid drivetrain, exciting design and innovative technology. Electrification with choice is what European customers want, and the introduction of Kicks will further demonstrate how Nissan has options for all.”
The announcement underlines Nissan’s plans to continue offering different electrified powertrains to suit varying customer needs, while maintaining manufacturing capacity and automotive expertise in the North East of England.
The Kicks announcement forms part of a series of product developments for Nissan in Europe during September 2026.
Alongside the planned introduction of the Kicks e-POWER hybrid, Nissan announced the forthcoming Nissan PIXO, a new A-segment electric car intended to expand the brand’s fully electric offering.
Nissan has also confirmed plans for the next-generation Juke, which is scheduled to enter production at Sunderland from 2027 as a fully electric model.
Together, these developments demonstrate Nissan’s strategy of providing customers with a choice of electrified technologies, from fully electric vehicles to hybrids that use petrol-generated electricity to drive the wheels.
For motorists considering their next Nissan, this expanding range is intended to provide greater flexibility when choosing a vehicle to suit their driving habits, charging access and lifestyle.
Over 40 years, Nissan’s Sunderland Plant has become a major centre for vehicle production and exports in the UK.
The facility manufactures vehicles for international markets and is supported by Nissan’s wider UK operations, including its design centre in Paddington, London, and research and development site in Cranfield, Bedfordshire.
Adam Pennick, Vice President of Manufacturing at Nissan Sunderland Plant, said:
“I’m proud to welcome this new model allocation for Sunderland. It’s the perfect way to celebrate our 40th year as a world-class manufacturing site. We look forward to seeing Kicks e-POWER hybrid going down the production line with our electrified line up of Qashqai, Juke and LEAF.”
The planned addition of the Kicks will build on Sunderland’s existing experience producing electrified vehicles and further integrate the facility into Nissan’s European product strategy.
UK Government Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds also commented on the investment:
"Nissan has been at the heart of British manufacturing for four decades, with Sunderland producing millions of vehicles that supported thousands of skilled jobs and helped establish the North East as a global automotive powerhouse.
"The decision to build this new model in Sunderland is a huge vote of confidence in the UK's manufacturing expertise and automotive future. I’m excited in what our partnership with industry can achieve so this Government delivers good growth, investment and skilled jobs in every postcode."
The planned European arrival of the Nissan Kicks e-POWER adds another exciting development to Nissan’s electrification journey. With electric-motor-driven performance, no requirement for external charging and production planned for Sunderland, the crossover will broaden the choice available to future Nissan customers.
At Western & Barnetts Nissan, we help customers across Scotland explore Nissan’s latest models and electrified technologies, including the Nissan Qashqai, Juke and all-electric LEAF.
If you are considering a new Nissan, our team can help you explore the current range and find a model suited to your everyday journeys, family requirements and driving preferences.
Explore the Nissan range at Western & Barnetts Nissan and keep up to date with the latest news on upcoming Nissan models, including the Kicks e-POWER hybrid.
Contact your local Western & Barnetts Nissan dealership for the latest information on available models, current offers and future vehicle launches.
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