Nissan and its partners have announced a big plan to invest £2bn in building three electric car models at its factory in Sunderland, UK. They will make electric versions of the Qashqai and Juke models, as well as the next generation of the electric Leaf. This investment will save the jobs of around 6,000 workers and many more across the country. They will also build a new battery plant called a “gigafactory.” Nissan will spend £1.12bn on getting its UK facilities ready for the new models and training its workers. The total investment, including the gigafactory, will be up to £2bn.

The chairman of AESC, Nissan’s partner, said they are looking into expanding the gigafactory in Sunderland. They expect to get support from the government, but we don’t know the details yet. Nissan will also get £15m in funding for its research center in Bedfordshire. The Unite union thinks this plan is great because it secures the future of the factory and the skilled jobs there. But they want the government to do more to help the car industry.

Earlier this year, Nissan’s chief operating officer was worried that the UK is not competitive in car-making because it costs more to make cars here. Alan Johnson, Nissan’s senior vice president, thinks the UK can be competitive if we have low energy costs, good infrastructure, and government support.

The UK government has already given some support to Nissan through the Automotive Transformation Fund, and they are talking about giving more money. They will probably give around £100m in total. This announcement from Nissan comes at the same time as the news that an investment zone is being set up in North East England. This will create over 4,000 jobs in the next five years.

Brexit is also a worry for the car industry because there might be taxes on cars sold between the UK and EU. Nissan sends 80% of the cars made in Sunderland to other countries, so this is really important for them. They think it’s important to have big investments in the UK, like the battery plant, to be successful. Other car companies, like Stellantis, are also worried about the taxes and if they can keep making cars in the UK.

In summary, Nissan’s plan to invest £2bn in making electric cars in Sunderland is going to save lots of jobs and help the car industry in the UK. They will also build a new battery plant. They are talking to the government about getting money for this project. Brexit and taxes on car exports are still a worry, but Nissan thinks it’s important to invest in the UK to do well.

Original news source: Nissan to lead £2bn investment in UK electric car plant (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, students will read the article and then summarize the main points in their own words. They should focus on the key information, such as the investment, the electric car models, and the impact on jobs and the car industry in the UK. After discussing within their groups, each group will share their summary with the class.

– Word Association
Instructions: Write the word “Nissan” on the board and ask students to brainstorm words or phrases that come to mind when they think of Nissan. Encourage them to think about the company, its products, and its impact on the car industry. Then, have students share their ideas and discuss the connections between the words/phrases.

– Sketch It
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. One student will describe a scene or concept from the article, while the other student listens and tries to sketch it based on the description. After a set amount of time, they can compare their sketches and discuss how accurately the scene or concept was conveyed.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into two groups. One group will discuss the pros of Nissan’s plan to invest in building electric cars in Sunderland, while the other group will discuss the cons. Give students time to brainstorm and then have them share their ideas with the class. Encourage respectful discussion and debate, allowing students to challenge and defend different viewpoints.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, students will discuss and make predictions about the future of the car industry, specifically in relation to electric cars and the impact of Brexit. They should consider factors such as technological advancements, government policies, and consumer demand. After their discussion, each group will share their predictions with the class and discuss the reasoning behind them.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What is Nissan’s plan for investing £2bn in Sunderland, UK?
2. Which car models will Nissan make electric versions of?
3. How many jobs will be saved as a result of this investment?
4. What is the name of the new battery plant that Nissan will build?
5. How much money will Nissan spend on preparing its UK facilities for the new models and training its workers?
6. What does the chairman of AESC say about expanding the gigafactory?
7. How much funding will Nissan receive for its research center in Bedfordshire?
8. What are some of the concerns for the car industry in relation to Brexit and taxes on car exports?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Nissan and its (1)______s have announced a big plan to (2)______ £2bn in building three electric car models at its factory in Sunderland, UK. They will make electric versions of the Qashqai and Juke models, as well as the next (3)______ of the electric Leaf. This investment will save the jobs of around 6,000 workers and many more across the country. They will also build a new battery plant called a “gigafactory.” Nissan will spend £1.12bn on getting its UK facilities ready for the new models and training its workers. The total investment, including the gigafactory, will be up to £2bn.

The (4)______ of AESC, Nissan’s partner, said they are looking into expanding the gigafactory in Sunderland. They expect to get support from the government, but we don’t know the (5)______ yet. Nissan will also get £15m in funding for its research center in Bedfordshire. The Unite union (6)______ this plan is (7)______ because it secures the future of the factory and the skilled jobs there. But they want the government to do more to help the car industry.

Earlier this year, Nissan’s chief operating officer was worried that the UK is not (8)______ in car-making because it costs more to make cars here. Alan Johnson, Nissan’s senior vice president, thinks the UK can be competitive if we have low energy (9)______, good infrastructure, and government support.

The UK government has already given some support to Nissan through the Automotive Transformation Fund, and they are talking about giving more money. They will probably give around £100m in total. This announcement from Nissan (10)______ at the same time as the news that an (11)______ zone is being set up in North East England. This will create over 4,000 jobs in the next five years.

Brexit is also a worry for the car industry because there might be taxes on cars sold between the UK and EU. Nissan sends 80% of the cars made in Sunderland to (12)______ countries, so this is really important for them. They think it’s important to have big investments in the UK, like the battery plant, to be successful. Other car companies, like Stellantis, are also worried about the (13)______ and if they can keep making cars in the UK.

In summary, Nissan’s plan to invest £2bn in making electric cars in Sunderland is going to save lots of jobs and help the car industry in the UK. They will also (14)______ a new battery plant. They are talking to the government about getting (15)______ for this project. Brexit and taxes on car exports are still a (16)______, but Nissan thinks it’s important to invest in the UK to do well.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is an electric car?
2. How would you feel if you had an electric car? Why?
3. Do you like the idea of electric cars? Why or why not?
4. What do you think about Nissan’s plan to invest in electric car production in the UK?
5. Do you think it’s important for the government to support the car industry? Why?
6. How do you think low energy costs and good infrastructure can make the UK competitive in car-making?
7. Why is Brexit a worry for the car industry?
8. How do you think taxes on car exports could affect the car industry?
9. What do you think about the idea of building a new battery plant in the UK?
10. How do you think big investments, like the battery plant, can help the UK’s car industry?
11. Would you like to work in the car industry? Why or why not?
12. How do you think the investment in electric car production will impact job opportunities?
13. What do you think the government can do to help the car industry even more?
14. How important do you think it is for the UK to have a strong car industry? Why?
15. Do you think other countries should follow Nissan’s example and invest in electric car production? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. invest
2. factory
3. electric
4. models
5. jobs
6. plant
7. government
8. industry

Meanings:
(a) Work that people do to earn money
(b) The group of people who make decisions for a country
(c) A place where things are grown or made
(d) Powered by electricity
(e) To put money into something to make it grow
(f) A building where things are made or put together
(g) The businesses that produce goods or services
(h) Different types or designs of something
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is Nissan planning to invest £2bn in?
(a) Building three petrol car models in Sunderland, UK
(b) Building three electric car models and a battery plant in Sunderland, UK
(c) Building three electric car models and a battery plant in London, UK
(d) Building three petrol car models in London, UK

2. How many jobs will be saved by Nissan’s investment?
(a) Around 4,000 jobs
(b) Around 2,000 jobs
(c) Around 6,000 jobs
(d) Around 8,000 jobs

3. What is the name of the new battery plant that Nissan will build?
(a) Megafactory
(b) Gigafactory
(c) Superfactory
(d) Hyperfactory

4. How much money will Nissan spend on getting its UK facilities ready for the new models and training its workers?
(a) £2bn
(b) £15m
(c) £100m
(d) £1.12bn

5. What does the Unite union think about Nissan’s plan?
(a) They think it secures the future of the factory and the skilled jobs there
(b) They think it will lead to job losses
(c) They think it will have no impact on the car industry
(d) They think it will make the car industry less competitive

6. What does Alan Johnson, Nissan’s senior vice president, believe is necessary for the UK to be competitive in car-making?
(a) High energy costs, poor infrastructure, and government support
(b) Low energy costs, poor infrastructure, and government support
(c) Low energy costs, good infrastructure, and government support
(d) High energy costs, good infrastructure, and government support

7. How much money has the UK government already given to Nissan?
(a) £100m
(b) £2bn
(c) £15m
(d) Some support through the Automotive Transformation Fund

8. Why is Brexit a worry for the car industry?
(a) There might be taxes on cars sold between the UK and EU
(b) There might be taxes on cars sold within the UK
(c) There might be taxes on cars sold outside of the UK
(d) There might be taxes on cars sold within the EU

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. The investment will save the jobs of around 6,000 workers and many more across the country.
2. Nissan and its partners are not planning to invest £2bn in building three electric car models at its factory in Sunderland, UK.
3. Nissan will also build a new battery plant called a “gigafactory” as part of the investment.
4. The company will not spend £1.12bn on preparing its UK facilities and training its workers for the new models.
5. The electric car models will include the Qashqai, Juke, and the next generation of the electric Leaf.
6. The chairman of AESC, Nissan’s partner, has expressed interest in expanding the gigafactory in Sunderland.
7. Nissan will not receive £15m in funding for its research center in Bedfordshire.
8. The UK government has not provided support to Nissan through the Automotive Transformation Fund and is not considering giving additional funding.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What is Nissan’s plan for its factory in Sunderland?
2. How many jobs will be saved as a result of Nissan’s investment?
3. What is a “gigafactory” and what will Nissan use it for?
4. Why does Nissan want the UK government to do more to help the car industry?
5. Why is Brexit a concern for Nissan and other car companies in the UK?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Nissan’s plan is to invest £2bn in building three electric car models at its factory in Sunderland, UK.
2. Nissan will make electric versions of the Qashqai and Juke models, as well as the next generation of the electric Leaf.
3. This investment will save the jobs of around 6,000 workers and many more across the country.
4. The new battery plant that Nissan will build is called a “gigafactory.”
5. Nissan will spend £1.12bn on preparing its UK facilities for the new models and training its workers.
6. The chairman of AESC says they are looking into expanding the gigafactory in Sunderland. They expect to get support from the government, but we don’t know the details yet.
7. Nissan will receive £15m in funding for its research center in Bedfordshire.
8. Some concerns for the car industry in relation to Brexit and taxes on car exports are the potential taxes on cars sold between the UK and EU. Nissan sends 80% of the cars made in Sunderland to other countries, so this is really important for them. Other car companies, like Stellantis, are also worried about the taxes and if they can keep making cars in the UK.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) partner
(2) invest
(3) generation
(4) chairman
(5) details
(6) thinks
(7) great
(8) competitive
(9) costs
(10) comes
(11) investment
(12) other
(13) taxes
(14) build
(15) money
(16) worry
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. invest
Answer: (e) To put money into something to make it grow

2. factory
Answer: (f) A building where things are made or put together

3. electric
Answer: (d) Powered by electricity

4. models
Answer: (h) Different types or designs of something

5. jobs
Answer: (a) Work that people do to earn money

6. plant
Answer: (c) A place where things are grown or made

7. government
Answer: (b) The group of people who make decisions for a country

8. industry
Answer: (g) The businesses that produce goods or services
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is Nissan planning to invest £2bn in?
Answer: (b) Building three electric car models and a battery plant in Sunderland, UK

2. How many jobs will be saved by Nissan’s investment?
Answer: (c) Around 6,000 jobs

3. What is the name of the new battery plant that Nissan will build?
Answer: (b) Gigafactory

4. How much money will Nissan spend on getting its UK facilities ready for the new models and training its workers?
Answer: (d) £1.12bn

5. What does the Unite union think about Nissan’s plan?
Answer: (a) They think it secures the future of the factory and the skilled jobs there

6. What does Alan Johnson, Nissan’s senior vice president, believe is necessary for the UK to be competitive in car-making?
Answer: (c) Low energy costs, good infrastructure, and government support

7. How much money has the UK government already given to Nissan?
Answer: (d) Some support through the Automotive Transformation Fund

8. Why is Brexit a worry for the car industry?
Answer: (a) There might be taxes on cars sold between the UK and EU
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. The investment will save the jobs of around 6,000 workers and many more across the country. (Answer: True)
2. Nissan and its partners are not planning to invest £2bn in building three electric car models at its factory in Sunderland, UK. (Answer: False)
3. Nissan will also build a new battery plant called a “gigafactory” as part of the investment. (Answer: True)
4. The company will not spend £1.12bn on preparing its UK facilities and training its workers for the new models. (Answer: False)
5. The electric car models will include the Qashqai, Juke, and the next generation of the electric Leaf. (Answer: True)
6. The chairman of AESC, Nissan’s partner, has expressed interest in expanding the gigafactory in Sunderland. (Answer: True)
7. Nissan will not receive £15m in funding for its research center in Bedfordshire. (Answer: False)
8. The UK government has not provided support to Nissan through the Automotive Transformation Fund and is not considering giving additional funding. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧