Nissan has cancelled an electric vehicle powertrain project at its Sunderland plant, dealing a blow to UK automotive production, GB News reports.

The decision removes planned EV powertrain manufacturing work from the site, which serves as Nissan's primary European production base. The report describes the cancellation as a major setback for UK car output, though it does not specify the number of jobs affected, the investment value of the cancelled project, or its intended launch timing.

Sunderland has been central to Nissan's European operations for decades and has anchored a regional supplier network across the North East of England. Powertrain work — engines and, increasingly, electric drive units — typically pulls significant tier-one supplier investment alongside OEM spending, so a cancelled programme at the plant carries consequences beyond Nissan's own headcount.

GB News did not state whether the cancelled project was tied to a specific future EV model, nor whether any supplier contracts linked to the programme will be wound down. Nissan has not, according to the report, detailed a revised timeline for electrified powertrain work at the site.

What does the cancellation change?

The immediate effect is the loss of planned electric powertrain production work at Sunderland. What remains unclear from the reporting:

• Whether battery-electric vehicle assembly continues at the plant under existing plans
• How many direct and supplier jobs the project carried
• Whether the cancellation affects announced investment figures previously linked to Sunderland's electrification

What to watch next

The key follow-ups are Nissan's own statement on Sunderland's EV build plans, any response from UK government ministers on support for the plant, and confirmation of whether the cancelled powertrain work shifts to another Nissan manufacturing site in Europe or beyond.