NISSAN will introduce 24-hour production at its Sunderland plant if it secures the contract for the new Micra. Production would increase by 50% and would turn Sunderland into Britain's first 24-hour car factory.

The factory agreed the plan with its workers in a bid to win the contract ahead of Nissan's Barcelona plant and Renault's seven French plants. Nissan will decide where to build the new Micra by the beginning of next year.