Japan revs up Britain's struggling car industry
Monday, 23 July 2007
SUNDERLAND, England, July 22 (AFP): "It's a bit of a feather in the cap," said Nissan's head of European operations, Trevor Mann, of the export of Nissan's British-made cars to Japan for the first time in more than a decade.
Mann met AFP earlier this month at the Japanese group's car plant in Sunderland, northeast England, where workers are churning out the Micra C+C convertible before the niche model's impending launch in Japan.
Two months ago, Japanese car dealerships began selling the Sunderland-made Qashqai-a hybrid off-road compact car that in Japan has been named the Dualis.
Mann, who recently became Nissan's senior vice president for manufacturing, purchasing and supply-chain management in Europe, described Japan as "the most severe and demanding market from a quality point of view."
Both inside and outside of Nissan, the exports are seen as a major triumph, not only for the city of Sunderland and the wider northeast economy but also for Britain's troubled automotive sector.
Prior to 2007, the last Sunderland Nissan model to head to Japan was the Primera, in 1996.
Analysts say the renewed shipping of Nissan cars to the world's second biggest economic power is like sending coals to Newcastle-Sunderland's neighbouring city that enjoyed a thriving coal industry up until the late 20th century.
Mann met AFP earlier this month at the Japanese group's car plant in Sunderland, northeast England, where workers are churning out the Micra C+C convertible before the niche model's impending launch in Japan.
Two months ago, Japanese car dealerships began selling the Sunderland-made Qashqai-a hybrid off-road compact car that in Japan has been named the Dualis.
Mann, who recently became Nissan's senior vice president for manufacturing, purchasing and supply-chain management in Europe, described Japan as "the most severe and demanding market from a quality point of view."
Both inside and outside of Nissan, the exports are seen as a major triumph, not only for the city of Sunderland and the wider northeast economy but also for Britain's troubled automotive sector.
Prior to 2007, the last Sunderland Nissan model to head to Japan was the Primera, in 1996.
Analysts say the renewed shipping of Nissan cars to the world's second biggest economic power is like sending coals to Newcastle-Sunderland's neighbouring city that enjoyed a thriving coal industry up until the late 20th century.