NISSAN has announced it is is to create 400 jobs at its car manufacturing plant in Sunderland.

The company is to launch a temporary third production shift in response to continuing high demand for the award-winning Qashqai model.

The move will lead to the creation of 400 new fixed-term manufacturing posts.

Sales of the Qashqai have reached levels where demand is outstripping supply and, with an extensive update due in March, a nightshift will be added to the production line from May.

The new nightshift is expected to be maintained for about six months.

Recruitment will begin next month for 400 new fixed-term posts at the plant and allow for the retention of an existing 160 temporary staff.

It is anticipated that additional posts will also be created across Nissan’s supply chain.

The latest forecast for the 2009 financial year anticipates more than 200,000 Qashqai sales in Europe, making it Nissan’s best-selling model.

Trevor Mann, Nissan Senior Vice President for Manufacturing, Europe said: “Qashqai continues to buck the trend of a generally depressed market, and we have now identified the need for an additional shift to cover a high volume request in the first half of the 2010 financial year”