Latest news with #NissanBluebird
Daily Mirror
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Major UK car plant to cut 250 jobs as electric vehicle sales flop
Nissan is cutting around 250 jobs at its Sunderland car plant as part of a major cost-cutting drive after the Japanese carmaker reported its worst financial result in a quarter of a century Hundreds of workers at Nissan's Sunderland factory are bracing themselves for job losses as the car giant grapples with dwindling demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and plummeting profits. The Japanese car manufacturer has confirmed plans to axe approximately 250 jobs at the North East plant, which equates to around four percent of its 6,000-strong workforce, through a voluntary redundancy scheme. Office staff and shop floor supervisors will bear the brunt of the job cuts, while production line workers will be unaffected, according to Nissan. This comes as a blow to Britain's largest car plant, a stalwart of the UK automotive industry since its inauguration in 1986, famously known for producing the Nissan Bluebird. Today, it stands as Nissan's sole manufacturing site in Europe and Sunderland's biggest employer. These job cuts form part of a significant cost-saving initiative as the company strives to recover ¥400bn (£2bn) following a harsh year that saw EV sales stumble across Europe, reports the Express. Nissan has invested billions in its ambition to become a leading EV manufacturer, including a hefty £2bn investment to revamp its Sunderland site for electric car production, with the goal of phasing out petrol and diesel models by 2030. However, this gamble has encountered a hitch. Interest in EVs hasn't grown as anticipated, impacting Nissan's bottom line. Weak demand in China, pricing wars in the US, and escalating costs for energy and labour have further dented profits. Nissan has reported a catastrophic 88 percent drop in profits for the full year 2025, its poorest performance in 25 years. In an attempt to bounce back, Nissan is embarking on a major restructuring effort that will see about 20,000 jobs slashed from its global workforce of 133,500. A spokesperson for Nissan commented: "This week we are beginning discussions with some of our team in Sunderland about the opportunity to voluntarily leave Nissan, with support from the company." The move signals increasing strain on established car manufacturers as they navigate the rocky transition to electric vehicles and grapple with the challenge of balancing long-term investments with immediate survival.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Nissan to axe hundreds of UK jobs
Nissan plans to cut hundreds of jobs at its Sunderland factory as the carmaker scrambles to boost profits amid slow demand for electric vehicles (EV). On Monday, the Japanese manufacturer announced plans to cut around 250 jobs – roughly 4pc of its 6,000-strong workforce at the plant in the North of England – through a voluntary redundancy scheme. Office staff and shop floor supervisors at the Sunderland facility will be affected by the cull, while manufacturing workers will be unaffected, the group said. Nissan's Sunderland facility was first opened in 1986 to supply cars including the iconic Nissan Bluebird to markets in the UK and Europe. The factory is currently the largest car factory in Britain and Nissan's only factory in Europe. The car factory in Sunderland is also the city's largest employer. The cuts come as Nissan seeks to cut ¥400bn (£2bn) of costs after its profits slumped amid slower-than-expected uptake of EVs in Europe. Nissan has invested heavily in its push to become a leading manufacturer of EVs in a bid to ditch petrol and diesel car production by 2030. The plans saw it commit £2bn worth of investments for upgrades to its Sunderland facility in 2023 to prepare for the switch to EVs. The lay-offs come as slow uptake of EVs hits Nissan's profitability. Slumping sales in China and pricing pressures in the US have also hurt Nissan's income, while soaring energy prices and labour costs have further eroded profits. The slowdown saw Nissan report an 88pc drop in its profits for the full year 2025, in what marked its worst set of financial results in 25 years. In response, the company outlined a far-reaching turnaround plan that is expected to see it lay off 20,000 of its 133,500 global employees. A Nissan spokesman said: 'This week we are beginning discussions with some of our team in Sunderland about the opportunity to voluntarily leave Nissan, with support from the company.' 'This will support the plant's efficiency as we aim to become a leaner, more resilient business,' the spokesman said. Nissan is now expected to start producing its fully electric Leaf model out of its Sunderland facility this year, with a view to launching an electric version of its Juke car in 2026. The spokesman said: 'Our Sunderland plant remains at the forefront of our electrification strategy.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Telegraph
20-04-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
The most (and least) popular classic car rentals, including an ‘oddball' Volkswagen Polo Harlequin
If you had the choice of renting a classic car, any classic car, and bringing a dream to life, or embarking on a special weekend away, what would you choose? A Jaguar E-type, an MGB or a quirky old VW camper, perhaps? All well and good, although we suggest that these three are a bit, well, obvious. According to the UK's largest collective of classic car owners hiring out their motors, the most requested vehicle is… a 1989 Nissan Bluebird 2.0i GSX automatic in silver. Yes, for those of you of a certain age, one of the very cars you'll have spent many a late weekend night in as it mini-cabbed you between bars, clubs and home three-and-a-half decades ago. Meanwhile, the least requested modern classic on the club's books is a 1996 Volkswagen Polo Harlequin. A what…? An initial eyeful of the oddball VW will provide an instant clue as to why classic car hirers steer clear of it: Harlequin by name, harlequin by nature: every panel is a different colour; hire it, and you'll need a certain type of in-built resistance to being stared at. Savvy classic car owners who want to make their indulgences as break-even or as profitable as possible join clubs such as Book A Classic, renting their cars to enthusiasts or the merely curious, who want a classic car experience but have neither funds nor storage to own one or, increasingly, for events and occasions ranging from weddings to photo shoots with celebrities. Claim to fame Yassin Kara, a telecare operator from west London, has owned a Nissan Bluebird for five years. It's a five-door automatic and costs £250 per day, self-drive. The model's main claim to fame is that it was the first wholly Japanese car to be assembled in the UK, in 1986. Kara said: 'It makes a popular rental, as people appreciate the analogue experience and its simplicity. Many hold a nostalgic connection to the Nissan Bluebird, reminiscing about cherished moments linked to the car or appreciating its design, which evokes memories from their younger days. 'My father owned one during my childhood and I vividly remember the thrill when we brought it home from the dealership. That experience sparked my fascination with the vehicle. 'It's sometimes associated with movies due to its unique design. Some say it looks like the Delorean DMC-12 from the Back to the Future film trilogy.' Of course it does… Acquired taste At the other end of the popularity spectrum – within a spectrum all of its own – is the Polo Harlequin owned by Jacob Kent-Ledger, 30, a company director from Hertfordshire. He has owned it since 2020. There are only 25 still running on UK roads. Probably rare because they were an acquired taste – and often resprayed a single colour by traders desperate to sell them on after the novelty faded. 'They are quite a collectable piece worldwide, but when new the story was very different. Dealers would strip them for parts or respray them a single colour just to sell them,' said Kent-Ledger. It costs £90 an hour with a £180 minimum, but must be chauffeur-driven. Sports car classic More predictable as a desirable classic experience is Nicki Williams's Lapis Blue Morgan +4, nicknamed Bertie, which she bought new in 2019. It looks like it's from a different era, but has modern underpinnings. Company director Williams, 59, from Worcestershire, said: 'Our Morgan is the last of the traditionally built Morgans before they changed to their more modern [aluminium] chassis. 'It has the same charm and appearance as Morgans have always had, but better suspension and reliability than if we had bought an older one. The biggest attraction for people hiring Bertie is the colour: brides just 'pop' against the blue bodywork.' It costs £320 an hour, whether chauffeur-driven or self-drive. 4x4 legend Guy Bottomley, 35, a fund manager from London, owns Randy the Landy. 'It was a wedding gift from my wife, Tara, and used as our own wedding car, we drove away in it for our honeymoon down in Devon and only broke down once… just outside Exeter with all the ribbons still on,' said Bottomley. 'A passing gang of Land Rover enthusiasts stopped and not only fixed the problem but also retuned the timing on the side of the motorway before sending us on our way.' Randy is a 1983 Marine Blue Series 3 90 which he has owned for five years, during which it has been fully restored. 'This exact spec was used in the latest James Bond film. They are rugged and unpretentious yet aesthetically gorgeous, so a perfect statement car for a country wedding or prop for a movie.' Randy has had his own moment of fame, recently appearing in promotional photos with Take That's Gary Barlow. The Land Rover rents out for £150 an hour, minimum £300 chauffeured, or £600 a day self-drive. German presence Amir Rao, 35, a building information modelling co-ordinator from south London, has a 1984 Mercedes-Benz 500SL in anthracite grey. He co-owns it with his father, Anis, and brother, Adil, and acquired it in 2018. It's chauffeur-only at £79 an hour, a minimum of £160. 'The most beloved car I have ever owned. It turns heads, gets thumbs-up, and even outshines the presence of a supercar. People have even pulled me over to ask if I'd sell it,' said Rao. He says that whenever clients hire it for weddings, fashion shoots or music videos, they always comment on its hue: perfect for avoiding colour clashes with the subject. A-Ford-able 1970s Fords are among the most reliable value-retainers in the classic car market. There's barely anybody in the country over the age of 50 who hasn't been exposed to one during their formative years. They are elite nostalgia-kick cars. This one is so rare and valuable it's chauffeur-drive only – at £140 an hour. Its proud owner is Ajit Dhillon, 64. As a police officer he'll know all about Fords and car chases, a big part of the brand's image-building being in classic television shows such as The Sweeney and The Professionals. He has owned his red 1972 Ford Cortina Mk3 GXL since 2003. More than a million Mk3 Cortinas were produced in the 1970s. Fifty years ago it was a common sight, but corrosion wasn't kind to them, so it's now one of the rarest of the five series of Cortina. 'The Mark 3 was the first Cortina model to adopt a 'Coke bottle' body shape with American styling. It almost defines what an icon of the 1970s should represent,' said Dhillon. 'Virtually everyone today either knows of someone, a friend or family member, who drove or owned one, with so many fond memories.' So if you're hankering for a nostalgia kick, renting a classic for hundreds of pounds rather than buying for thousands may be the answer. And you don't need to stop at just one, of course. Self-drive classic rentals need to be insured, of course, and specialists such as Classicline Insurance or Dayinsure offer rental-duration cover, although if you already own a classic your insurer may be able to add a car to your policy on a temporary basis.
