A CAR maker has brushed off Brexit uncertainties after a £37m expansion was complemented by a production landmark.

Nissan says it is “business as usual” at its Sunderland plant following the installation of a 5,200-tonne press capable of making up to 2.5 million car panels every year.

The firm has also hit another manufacturing milestone after an all-electric Leaf hatchback became the nine millionth vehicle to be made on its lines since the factory’s 1986 opening.

The progress comes as Nissan, which has now spent more than £4bn on its near 7,000-strong job Wearside base, remains caught up in wider Brexit indecision.

Senior boss Carlos Ghosn, who has announced the site will make next generation Qashqai and X-Trail models, has said he will review the site’s competitiveness once a Brexit deal is established after previously warning Downing Street the firm would want compensation for export tariffs incurred outside the EU.

But, speaking at the official launch of its new press yesterday, which took around 18 months to complete, Kevin Fitzpatrick Nissan’s divisional vice-president for European manufacturing, said the business was very much focused on its future in the North-East.

Revealing the press, which has an anticipated 25-year lifespan, will make larger panels for all vehicles made in the region, including the Qashqai, Juke and luxury Infiniti models, he said the investment was a sign of intent.

However, he refrained from revealing any date when the company will start work on the new Qashqai and X-Trail, confirming only a refreshed Qashqai, which is expected to be revealed later this year and include ‘auto-pilot’ driver-aid technology, will use panels from the new press.

Mr Fitzpatrick, who confirmed around 20 workers had been added to the press shop to help bring the project to fruition, said: “We have come a long way in the past 30 years.

“This press is a significant milestone, it’s a once in a generation event and a remarkable achievement.

“It can make 15 panels a minute and 2.5 million a year.

“It is the most advanced press that Nissan has built.

“As far as the plant is concerned, it is business as usual.

“We have been allocated the cars and we are working on them.

“The press demonstrates the faith Nissan has in this plant and the expectation that we will be building cars here for years to come.”

During a ceremony, Mr Fitzpatrick added his signature to that of other Nissan workers on the first panel to be made in the press and said its nine million landmark was a “tremendous achievement”.

He added: “The vehicles have come a long way from the first Bluebird to roll off the line.

“It’s not just the quantity, it’s the quality that goes into our cars that will keep us pushing towards new production records.”