The plant already builds the NV200 and e-NV200 as well as the Pathfinder SUV, Navara pick-up models and Primastar van. The new car brings an additional 80,000 units of annual capacity to Barcelona, through an investment of €110m, and the creation of 1,000 direct and 3,000 indirect jobs.

Nissan was due to build the yet-to-be-revealed car at its plant in Sunderland in the UK but announced at the end of last year that it would be shifting production to another location following the announcement that Infiniti is to use the North East base to build its new luxury hatchback.

In addition, Nissan is to use is Barcelona plant to build an extra 24,000 units of its Navara, representing an investment of €14m, and the assembly of the gearbox for the Nissan LEAF and Nissan eNV200, an investment of €6m.

The €130m investment will be used to renovate production lines for the new passenger car, as well as introduce new technology to support electric-vehicle production, and to adapt the supplier park to new production requirements.

Nissan added that the move diversifies the Barcelona plant’s production, which had previously been heavily dependent on LCVs and 4x4s, sales of which have been impacted by the economic downturn.

Nissan Motor Ibérica managing director, Frank Torres added: ‘The most important thing now is to be able to ensure the successful launch of these products and keep the competitiveness commitment. If we do, I am sure new opportunities will come.’

He continued: ‘In the coming years, Barcelona plant will work at full capacity, with an annual output over 200,000 units while maintaining its attractiveness to produce new models. Given the current crisis environment, this is not only a great achievement for Nissan, but for the entire industry in this country.’