THE workforce at Nissan's Sunderland car plant won praise last night after the factory was named the most productive in Europe for the seventh year in succession.

Each worker at the Wearside plant produced an average of 99 cars last year, compared with 95 the year before.

The factory topped the 2003 European Automotive Productivity Index, which also assessed the output of 43 rivals.

Colin Dodge, managing director of Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK, said: "I'd like to pay tribute to the skill and dedication of our workforce and the experience of the management team in maintaining Nissan's excellent productivity record.

"Last year was a challenging one for the plant, with the launch of the new Micra and Primera as well as modifications to the Almera and the introduction of a whole new diesel range."

A spokesman added: "The workforce underpins everything that is done here at the plant. Certainly, their hard work and adaptability has been the most important factor in maintaining our position as the most productive plant in Europe."

The plant has topped the European league table since 1996, when it reached 73 cars per employee.

A total of 297,719 Micras, Almeras and Primeras were built in Sunderland last year. It has been the largest car producer in the UK for the past three years.

Mr Dodge added: "High productivity is the by-product of good manufacturing practice and how successfully you run the whole business. Nissan remains one of the best in the world at doing this. However, the skill and capability of our workforce remains the biggest factor in our success."

The factory broke production records earlier this year after it built 100,000 Micras in only six months.

A spokesman for the World Markets Research Centre, which compiled the index, said the plant ranked 11th in the world, with nine Japanese and one Korean plant ahead of it.

More flexible working practices and lower unionisation meant that more cars were produced in the east Asian countries.

Honda's Swindon site was at number seven in the index and the Toyota factory in Derbyshire was ranked eighth.

The good news for Sunderland comes amid uncertainty, after Nissan chief executive Carlos Ghosn hinted earlier this year that the fate of North-East jobs could rest on Britain's entry into the euro.