Prime Minister David Cameron hails Nissan and the LEAF model.

This week, Nissan who make up one third of the 'big three' Japanese automakers began to build their new LEAF model at their North East Sunderland plant, which was opened in 1986. The company has invested up to £420 million in the plant in recent years and created a total number of 2,000 jobs.

Prime Minister David Cameron was given a tour of the factory this week and was also given the opportunity to stick a Nissan badge on a LEAF model that had rolled straight of the production line.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: "This plant, all of the people who work here, the cars being produced behind me, are the best possible rebuke to those who say in Britain we don't design things anymore, we don't make things anymore. You have shown here at Nissan in Sunderland that we can and we can do it brilliantly."

Nissan has taken the leading role in the automotive industry with its investment in electric cars. The LEAF model, recently upgraded, first hit the road over two years ago and has sold over 50,000 models worldwide.

The executive vice president of Nissan, Andy Palmer has said: "The Nissan LEAF is our most technically advanced car yet and the launch of this new model, built along with its batteries in Sunderland, is a huge boost not only for the plant but for British manufacturing."