Nissan Motor will invest £170 million ($228.5 million) to produce the Kicks e-POWER hybrid compact SUV for Europe at its Sunderland plant in the UK. The model will join the Qashqai, Juke and electric Leaf, with vehicles planned for the UK, continental Europe and Turkey, although Nissan has not disclosed a production start date. The plant employs about 6,000 people and has produced more than 10 million vehicles since opening in 1986. The investment comes as Nissan cuts costs, considers contract manufacturing by Chery Automobile and negotiates potential UK government support tied to long-term operations and investment. Nissan says the Kicks supports its European electrification strategy, including a goal for all new European models to be electrified by 2030.