NISSAN has reacted angrily to reports it will scale back production of the Leaf electric car because the Government has failed to install enough charging points.

An article that appeared in The Times yesterday under the headline: “Leaf stalls at start amid power shortages” was a: “Gross misrepresentation of the company’s position,” according to Trevor Mann, Nissan Europe’s senior vice-president for manufacturing, who called me from the Geneva Motor Show to clarify the company’s position.

Nissan has also written to The Times and David Cameron to set the record straight.

At the end of the month, the Japanese carmaker will start making the Leaf at its Sunderland factory, employing up to 560 workers. Making the most radical car built for mass production in a generation will put the North-East in the vanguard of a motoring revolution.

The new production line has the capacity to make 50,000 Leaf hatchbacks a year, but the Japanese manufacturer has been deliberately vague about how many it expects to make in the next couple of years.

“We will make as many as people want,” said Mr Mann, who said the company was happy with Government backing for the electric vehicle charging network.

However, he expressed dismay that: “Some people are queuing up to knock the Leaf. They seem to be waiting for a disaster that is not going to happen. Nissan is fully behind this project.”

Mr Mann admitted that it was unlikely that we would all be swapping our petrol and diesel cars for all-electric models in the short term. Many industry experts reckon that that hydrogen fuel cells are a more viable alternative for long-haul trips. But Nissan still has high hopes for the Leaf.

The new Sunderland-built model includes 100 refinements on the first version of the Leaf, which has been made in Japan since 2011. In response to feedback from existing owners, it will charge in half the time of its predecessor and travel an additional 50km per charge.

It is being showcased in Geneva this week, alongside the latest Ferrari supercar and a Volkswagen capable of more than 300mpg.

Nissan took ten workers from the Sunderland plant to help man its stand at Europe’s premier motor event. They acted as a reminder for visitors that behind the glitz, glamour and gleaming chrome are North-East jobs.

Ultimately, whatever your view of electric cars, the fact that the Leaf is bringing investment, work and kudos to our region is something to celebrate.