The British government has pledged more than £3 million sterling to Nissan to make sure its new Micra model gets built in the company's Sunderland plant.
The Industry Minister, Ms Jacqui Smith, announced financing for production of the new Micra coupe-cabriolet, which will go on sale in Europe in 2005.
She said 250 jobs would be secured by the grant, which forms part of a £95 million sterling investment by Nissan in its new model.