Production of the new Infiniti Q30 hatchback has begun at Nissan’s UK production plant based in Sunderland.
Nissan, which owns the Infiniti brand, is investing £250 million, building new facilities and creating 300 new jobs at its Sunderland plant to support production of the Q30 and other Infiniti models in the future.
The Q30, which is available to order from £19,780, is not only the first compact model from the Infiniti brand, but also the first Infiniti car to be built in Europe. It will rival the likes of the BMW 1 Series, Audi A3 Sportback and the Mercedes A-Class. First deliveries of the Q30 are expected to occur in mid-January.
Engines for the Q30 range include a 108bhp 1.5-litre turbodiesel, a 155bhp 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine and a 208bhp 2.0-litre turbo petrol. The turbodiesel is the most efficient engine, recording an official combined fuel economy of 68.9mpg and CO2 emissions of 108g/km.
The Chief Performance Officer of Nissan Motor Corporation, Trevor Mann, said: “Over its 30 year history, Sunderland has grown into the UK’s largest automotive plant.
“It is renowned for delivering high-quality, top-selling vehicles, and is regarded as a world-class production facility with a highly skilled and dedicated work force.”
“Q30 production is further strengthening our premium vehicle manufacturing capability in Sunderland, and exports to global markets such as China and North America signal the next phase in the expansion of Infiniti and a new chapter for our UK plant,” he added.
