Nissan Sunderland• 480,485 cars built in Sunderland
• 24-hour Qashqai production
• Plant preparing to build all-electric LEAF

Staff at Nissan’s Sunderland factory celebrated its 25th anniversary by setting a string of UK car industry records.

A total of 480,485 cars were built, smashing the number manufactured by any UK car factory in history. November was its record month, with 46,602 vehicles driving off its production line.

The majority of cars turned out were the Nissan Qashqai (244,298) and Qashqai+2 (56,979) crossover models, which are in strong demand not only in the UK, but across Europe. The plant also constructed 132,606 Nissan Juke’s and 46,602 units of the Nissan Note.

The high figures were made possible by around-the-clock production of the Qashqai and the first full year of Juke production.

Extra staff were hired to meet demand, with employment reaching an all-time high of 5,642 people at the site.

The year ahead will see Nissan Sunderland launching the first lithium-ion battery production facility outside Japan, in preparation for UK production of the all-electric Nissan LEAF in 2013.

Nissan is not the only UK car factory enjoying success – Bentley reported this week that 2011 global sales were up by a staggering 37 per cent, with America still its biggest market. New markets including China improved sales, but Bentley also saw improvements in more traditional markets, including Germany.

Jaguar Land Rover is investing significantly in the UK, and creating thousands of jobs at its advanced manufacturing plant and low emissions engine plant in the Midlands, as well as at its manufacturing plant in Halewood, where models including the Evoque are built.

In August 2011 MINI celebrated building its 2-millionth new Hatch at its Oxford Plant. Toyota – which builds models including the Auris and Avensis at its Derbyshire plant, while engines are produced in Deeside – announced £100m investment to upgrade its facility, creating 1,500 jobs.

Ford has announced its crucial 1-litre EcoBoost petrol engine – the smallest motor ever to power its Focus family car – was designed in the UK and will be built in Dagenham.

McLaren unveiled the MP4-12C last year, showcasing its technical prowess. Built around a one-piece carbon fibre tub it’s light and can accelerate from 0-62mph in 3.3 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 205mph.

By Andy Goodwin, senior web journalist