Nissan’s Sunderland plant has resumed vehicle production after almost three months, with a new Nissan Juke the first car off the line. Hundreds of hours of preparation have been carried out to ensure the safe return of employees. The company says that every operation across the plant has been rigorously risk assessed to make sure it’s safe, with more than 5,000 processes reviewed to ensure safety at all times.

Alan Johnson, Nissan Vice President for Manufacturing in the UK said: “It’s great to see cars rolling off the line at the plant again, including the new Nissan Juke.

“It’s a testament to the skill and dedication of the team here that we have been able to get back up and running again, with a full set of safety measures in place.”

Improved safety measures include new separation between operators, such as screens, barriers and dividers, as well as one way systems across the site. Rest areas have been redesigned and break times rescheduled to support social distancing and remove common touchpoints. Staff will be provided with all the necessary PPE they need to operate safely.

With cars due to be shipped to customers across Europe, new health and safety measures have also been introduced across the dealer network in line with government recommendations. These include guidance on social distancing procedures, additional safety equipment and hygiene regulations.

Thanks to the application of those, Nissan has fully opened more than 95 per cent of its dealer network across Europe.