The fully electric Nissan Leaf has reached a significant milestone, with production at Nissan’s manufacturing plant in Sunderland overtaking that of another iconic vehicle, the Nissan Bluebird.
Between 1986 and 1990, production of the Nissan Bluebird at the company’s Sunderland manufacturing plant in the UK totalled 187,178 units, although the Bluebird itself dated back to the mid-1950s.
Now, at the Sunderland plant at least, the Nissan Leaf has become the most produced of the company’s vehicles, with a total of 195,380 units manufactured at the plant.
“Bluebird was an iconic model for the plant and evokes fond memories among all Nissan enthusiasts,” said Alan Johnson, head of manufacturing at the Sunderland Plant. “Leaf volumes overtaking Bluebird shows how dramatically our manufacturing innovation, skills and processes have evolved as we drive towards electrification.
“Leaf overtaking Bluebird is a landmark – but there are many more to come for our team at the plant as our electrified line up grows.”
At its peak, a new Bluebird took 22 hours to be built at the Sunderland factory. Now, thanks to significant improvement in technology, it only takes 10 hours to produce a Nissan LEAF.
Production technology is not the only thing that has changed, as Nissan highlighted in this comparison between the Bluebird and LEAF:
BLUEBIRD |
LEAF (e+) | |
| Acceleration 0 – 100km/h | 12.5 seconds | 6.9 seconds (e+) |
| Tech | Electric windows, central locking, electric mirrors, heated rear windscreen, radio cassette player | ProPILOT, e-Pedal Nissan Safety Shield including Lane Departure Warning, Intelligent Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Recognition, Intelligent Lane Intervention, Intelligent Cruise Control, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, High-Beam Assist NissanConnect Services 8″ Touchscreen Navigation and Entertainment System, Rear View Camera, Active Charging, Eco-Routing, Driving Range, Preset Air Conditioning, Nearby Charging Stations Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto® Smartphone App Integration |
| Engine/Battery | 2.0 Diesel Engine | 62kWh battery |
| Range | 729 km | Up to 385 km (62kWh) |
| Torque | 127 Nm at 2.400 r/m | 340 Nm |
| Computers (ECU) | 0 | 44 |
| Production Volume in Sunderland | 187,178 | 195,380 and counting |
| Number on the road worldwide | 300,000+ | 500,000 and counting |
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.