Nissan supplier Magna reveals jobs boost after official Wearside plant opening

A key Nissan supplier has refused to rule out further jobs after officially opening a Sunderland plant.

Magna says it has “many more roles to fill in the future as customer demand increases” following a ceremony at its Cherry Blossom Way site today (Thursday, August 26).

The business – which is supplying the Wearside car maker with exterior trim parts for its third-generation Qashqai – says the factory will employ 280 staff at full capacity.

However, bosses say they expect to deliver more posts amid rising need for parts and an increase in electrification work.

Canada-headquartered Magna’s Sunderland base, which opened in January last year, includes a robotic assembly line and technology that produces a fully-assembled thermo-plastic liftgate, which officials say is a lightweight alternative to steel.

Tony Park, Magna Exteriors UK’s group general manager, said: “We’re thrilled to celebrate the opening of our facility.

“We’ve been delighted with the speed at which we have been able to appoint a skilled team to get up to capacity, and our ambition is that this facility keeps growing as we continue to service Nissan and our customers across the UK to the highest possible standard.”

Councillor Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council, attended the official opening event to meet with leaders from the company.

He said: “Sunderland is at the beating heart of Europe’s automotive sector, and at the forefront of the electric revolution in advanced manufacturing.

“Nissan’s success has generated many thousands of jobs in the region, and Magna’s move to the city is a fantastic example of Sunderland’s ability to support successful local supply chains, thanks to its exceptional people, great connectivity and collaborative advanced manufacturing cluster.”