Nissan will start building the Kicks e-Power SUV in Sunderland, bringing the model to Europe for the first time and a £170 million investment to the UK plant. Christian Costaganna, Nissan’s CEO in Spain, announced the decision. The Kicks joins Nissan’s European range as the company focuses on hybrid technology, with electrification advancing at different speeds across markets. Reuters reports that the investment is part of Nissan’s broader plan to strengthen its European manufacturing and respond to changing consumer demand.
The Sunderland plant, which has produced 12 million vehicles since 1986, will supply the Kicks to the UK and Europe, as well as Turkey. The factory already builds the Qashqai and Juke; it also produces the Leaf. It will add the fully electric third-generation Juke in 2027. Nissan’s total investment in Sunderland now reaches £5 billion, supporting 6,000 direct jobs and another 30,000 in the supply chain. The company has not yet given a start date for Kicks production at Sunderland, Reuters reports.
The Kicks name is familiar in other markets, where more than 1.8 million have been sold across over 70 countries, but this is its first appearance in Europe. The European model will use Nissan’s third-generation e-Power hybrid system. Unlike standard hybrids, e-Power uses a petrol engine only to generate electricity; an electric motor drives the wheels. Drivers fill up with petrol as usual and do not need to plug in. Nissan expects the setup to appeal to people not ready for a fully electric car. Electrive reports that the European Kicks’ e-Power system was updated for 2025 to improve efficiency and reduce noise.
Spain is playing a growing role in Nissan’s European plans. It is now the company’s second-largest market in Europe and ninth worldwide. In 2025, Nissan sold 38,254 vehicles in Spain, up 10%, with 81% of passenger cars sold being electrified. The Qashqai led the C-SUV hybrid segment with 19,556 units. e-Power technology accounted for 60% of combined Qashqai and X-Trail sales. Costaganna said, “Spain is a basic market for Nissan, not only for its size but for its strategic role in our transition to electrification and sustainable growth.”
Nissan plans to cut its global model range from 56 to 45, while the Spanish lineup will grow. Refreshed versions of the Ariya and X-Trail are coming. The Micra and Leaf will remain, while the electric Juke and new PIXO are also planned. Costaganna explained, “This reduction at a global level does not necessarily mean a reduction locally. In Spain, for example, the range grows.”
Full electrification still faces hurdles. Costaganna said Spain’s basic challenge is not technology but the pace of adoption. He called for “clear incentives, stable rules,” and better charging infrastructure to build consumer confidence. Nissan expects the Spanish market to grow by 7-8% in 2026, but says the speed of electrification will depend on these outside factors. The Guardian has reported that Nissan’s decision to invest in Sunderland is partly linked to the UK’s regulatory environment. The company’s commitment may also depend on a potential easing of the British EV sales mandate. Automakers’ investment strategies are increasingly shaped by government policies and incentives in the electric vehicle sector.
The Kicks e-Power fits Nissan’s “electrification with choice” approach, offering a hybrid below the Qashqai and X-Trail. Pricing, launch dates and full technical details for the European Kicks have not yet been announced. The move reflects differing levels of consumer readiness for electric vehicles across Europe.
As reported earlier, Sunderland’s experience with e-Power technology, especially through the Qashqai, gives Nissan a base for this expansion. Since 2016, more than 1.9 million e-Power vehicles have been sold worldwide, including 200,000 built in the UK.
By building the Kicks e-Power in Sunderland and responding to Spain’s growing demand for electrified cars, Nissan is taking a practical approach to electrification. Its investment in hybrid technology alongside its pure electric models reflects current market conditions.
