U.K. becoming a hub for electric cars
Nissan announced will begin producing electric cars in the U.K., while Ford will be making energy-efficient cars with half a billion dollars in loan guarantees from the British government. Stephen Beard reports.
The plug end of a Nissan Leaf, Nissan's electric car. (Bryan Mitchell/Getty Images)
More on Sustainability, Auto Industry
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Bill Radke: Foreign carmakers are invading Britain to make low-carbon vehicles. Nissan announced today it will produce its electric car in the country. Also today, Ford won almost half a billion dollars in loan guarantees from the British government to make energy-efficient cars. From London, Marketplace's Stephen Beard reports on the country's green auto dreams.
Stephen Beard: Ford makes half of all its diesel engines here, and the British government's determined to protect that investment and promote greener transport. Under the deal unveiled today, Ford will be helped to develop low-carbon emission gas engines. Britain's aim is to turn itself a world leader for green cars.
Professor David Bailey is with the Coventry University Business School. He says cutting carbon emissions is the way forward for the auto industry:
David Bailey: Once the world economy recovers again, we'll see high oil prices and from here on in, high-energy prices. So we need to shift to much more fuel-efficient, low-carbon vehicles anyway in terms of energy independence.
The Japanese car company Nissan is also getting help from the British government. The company now plans to build its mass-market electric car, the Leaf, in the U.K. -- the first time it will be manufactured outside Japan and the U.S.
In London, this is Stephen Beard for Marketplace.
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