MORE than £2.3bn worth of investment has been poured into Nissan's Sunderland factory over the past 20 years, making it Britain's largest and most successful car plant.

By way of thanks, the Government yesterday awarded an honorary knighthood to Nissan's chief executive, Carlos Ghosn.

Mr Ghosn is to be rewarded for his services to Britain's motor industry by being appointed an Honorary Knight Commander of the British Empire.

The honour enables him to carry the initials KBE after his name - but not the title Sir - and will be presented early next year in a ceremony at the British Embassy in Japan.

Only last month, Mr Ghosn announced the Japanese company's new model, known as Qashqai, would be built at Sunderland, which employs more than 4,400 people.

Mr Ghosn said yesterday: "This honour is dedicated to the hard work and achievements of our 5,500 employees and 220 dealers that support the Nissan business in the UK.

"The ties between Nissan and the UK are deep and stretch back over 50 years. I am deeply honoured by this recognition from the United Kingdom."

Production at the Nissan plant in Sunderland has soared from just over 5,000 cars in 1986 to a staggering 315,297 last year - or a fifth of total UK production.

With the Qashqai now set to join the Micra, Almera, Primera and Note on the production line in Sunderland, Nissan expects to increase its capacity to 400,000 cars next year.