A GROUNDBREAKING North-East built car has strengthened its position as Europe’s most popular battery-powered model.

The Sunderland-made Nissan Leaf recorded the highest sales across the continent’s electric vehicle sector last year.

Figures show motorists’ desire for the all-electric hatchback meant sales increased 33 per cent to 14,658 in 2014, meaning it continues to dominate a market featuring BMW and Volkswagen.

The number was also nearly 3,500 higher than its closest rival, the Renault Zoe, and means the Leaf covered 26 per cent of the electric vehicle market.

Nissan said the results mean the Leaf is Europe’s best-selling electric car for a fourth consecutive year, adding UK sales hit 4,051, more than double the 1,812 recorded in 2013.

It means Nissan has now sold more than 7,000 Leafs in the UK.

Guillaume Cartier, Nissan’s European senior vice president of sales and marketing, said people were starting to understand the benefits of zero emission driving.

He added: “We can now see the impact word of mouth is having on our sales, with customers recommending our car to a friend and many also saying they would never go back to diesel or petrol.

“This powerful advocacy, combined with an increasing awareness of the massive savings electric cars deliver, is why Leaf sales are continuing to grow.

“Our figures also show Leaf drivers go 40 per cent more kilometres than the European average for petrol or diesel cars, covering more than 16,500km per year, showing it is changing the view of electric cars.”

The Leaf was launched in 2011 before being revised in 2013 when production started at Nissan’s Sunderland plant.

It is made on the same production line as Nissan’s ever-popular Qashqai, with one in every ten cars rolling off an electric one.

Its batteries are also made on the site, with many shipped to the Japanese firm’s Barcelona factory for use in its electric van.

Last week, the Leaf received praise from Prince Charles as he toured Nissan’s Wearside factory, which provides employment for nearly 7,000 workers.

A staunch supporter of lowering carbon emissions, the Prince spoke to staff about the car before sitting in a model to inspect its interior.