Confirmed: Nissan Starts Zero-Emission Initiative in UK

Following last week's report telling us about a potential partnership between Nissan and One North East, the Japanese automaker today confirmed the news saying that the agreement will help it explore the development of a zero-emission campaign in the United Kingdom. In other words, Nissan attempts to find out whether designing electric and hybrid models and selling them in the United Kingdom could prove profitable for the company.

The agreement will include a feasibility study regarding the introduction and the manufacturing process of electric vehicles in the region, Nissan said in a statement for the press.

In addition, the two companies will form special groups to promote zero emission electric vehicles across the country by launching educational programmes and advertise incentive schemes.

"Nissan has made a clear commitment to lead the global automotive industry in the mass marketing of electric vehicles. To that end the Renault-Nissan Alliance has formed strategic partnerships with a growing number of governments, cities and organisations. Today's signing with One North East will advance the deployment of EVs worldwide and promotes the North East as a region ready and willing to embrace zero emission mobility," Andy Palmer, Nissan SVP responsible for Nissan's global EV strategy said.

Another thing worth mentioning is that the UK government struggles to convince Nissan to build electric vehicles at its production facility in Sunderland, as such a decision could create new jobs and increase sales in the domestic market.

According to Nissan, the company will launch its first zero-emission electric vehicle in Japan and in the United States in 2010 before releasing them in global markets in 2012.