Nissan plans to use its Sunderland factory as a blueprint for an $18bn (£13bn) push aimed at dominating the global electric car market.
The Japanese company plans 15 new electric models by 2030 with EVs accounting for half its global output by then.
Ashwani Gupta, Nissan chief operating officer, said Sunderland would be at the forefront of its plans.
“Europe will take the lead on electrification around the world for Nissan. In Europe, Sunderland is the one which will take the lead towards electrification,” he said.
Nissan expects three-quarters of its European sales to be electric by 2026, followed by Japan at 55pc.
It makes the electric Leaf and the hybrid Qashqai in Sunderland as well as the petrol and diesel-powered Juke.
In the summer Nissan signed a £1bn deal to build Britain’s first electric car battery gigafactory, partnering with Chinese battery maker Envision.
A new factory will produce enough batteries for 100,000 cars when it starts operating in three years’ time as part of a plan that will create 1,650 jobs.
