| In recent weeks the UK car industry has received a | | | | that the Japanese car manufacturer is spending |
| number of financial packages which are aimed at | | | | £420 million on building new zero-emission electric |
| trying to support the sector in the coming years. | | | | vehicles at its north-east plant. |
| Private and public sector money could amount to | | | | Around 50,000 Nissan Leafs will have rolled off the |
| £2.6 billion over five years which will safeguard jobs | | | | production line each year by 2013 and it is set to be |
| and also create new roles in the car industry. | | | | the first affordable, mass-produced electric car in the |
| The government has already implemented projects to | | | | world. The government is backing the project by |
| try and support car manufacturing in the UK, with the | | | | investing more than £20 million in the scheme and it is |
| £400 million vehicle scrappage scheme helping out. | | | | also getting £197.3 million in funding from the |
| Car owners were able to trade in their old car for a | | | | European Investment Bank. |
| new model and get £2,000 knocked off the asking | | | | American car giant Ford is also bolstering the UK car |
| price for a limited time. | | | | industry with a £1.5 billion investment into developing |
| The scheme was a huge success and got a mention | | | | research at its Essex facility. |
| in yesterday's Budget as one of the most positive | | | | The government will then make £380 million available |
| projects the government has implemented. Chancellor | | | | to Ford in the form of loans from its Automotive |
| Alistair Darling also mentioned the government's | | | | Assistance programme. |
| involvement in persuading Nissan to develop its first | | | | Another automotive company which has benefited |
| electric car at its Sunderland site. | | | | from government support is Vauxhall, with a £270 |
| There was some concern that once the scrappage | | | | million loan. |
| scheme ended the industry would suffer a slump, but | | | | It is encouraging to see so many foreign |
| the new plans could negate that. | | | | manufacturers investing in the UK and hopefully that |
| Nissan is again helping out and the Guardian reported | | | | will bolster the car manufacturing industry. |