Inside the Nissan factory in Sunderland, where the Qashqai is born every two minutes and huge wind turbines produce its energy

HIGH there. It is me. I sat on top of a 249-foot wind turbine as an intern Fred Dibnah.

It’s wet and windy here. Very windy.

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The turbine rocks from side to side like a boat.

But the panoramic view of Britain’s No. 1 car factory – and the carpet of countryside that stretches for miles around it – was definitely worth the potential code brown.

Why am I here?

Because 20 percent of energy used to build Nissan’s Qashqai, Juke and Leaf comes from wind and solar energy.

Decent.

But this is just the beginning. Nissan is well on its way to making Sunderland the greenest car factory on the planet.

Qashqai is crown jewel

By 2030, the mega-selling Qashqai and Juke will become electric-only, like the Leaf.

The batteries will be assembled in one of three gigafactories next door.

A new microgrid incorporating existing wind and solar farms will have the capacity to produce all car and battery power plants to need.

A total ecosystem, then.

Now, some might argue that being kind to the planet with responsible production is one thing. But who is paying for this?

If families can’t afford the extra cost of an EV, they’ll buy one gasoline thing or another.

Bosses have promised battery costs will be lower by 2030, putting Nissan EVs in the same price range as gasoline. I will keep reminding them of this. Now, some “Inside The Factory” facts, Gregg Wallace style.

Sunderland started building the Bluebird in 1986 and has already sold 11 MILLION cars. One in every three cars made in the UK is made right here in the North East – more than 400,000 a year – with a new Qashqai being born every TWO MINUTES.

Qashqai is the jewel in the crown. The do-it-all SUV continues to break records as the fastest car, with one, two, three and four million units.

Line them up end to end and they would stretch from Sunderland to Mount Fuji.

Now a smarter, more sophisticated Qashqai with built-in Google has started to roll out from the factory, priced from £30,000.

You might notice the more distinctive front end and body-colored wheel arches.

The Juke was updated in February (see road test to the right) and the factory is now busy preparing for the next generation Leaf, due in early 2025.

Another thing that is impressive is the pride and the precision of the 6,000 people who work here – exactly why the Japanese continue to invest billions into future-proofing the factory.

You are born red and white or black and white around here.

But absolutely everyone is supporting Nissan green team.

• THANK YOU to Jason and Gary for guiding me up and down the turbine. It’s a bit like rappelling inside a giant straw. Yes, I will leave a review on TripAdvisor, and yes, I will buy a mug on the way out. Boys.

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GOING UP

JUKE buyers are also increasing around the world.

The popular bug-eyed crossover has been updated with an improved cabin, more technology and a banana yellow paint job you’ve been asking for.

The cheapest Juke is the single 1-litre petrol for £25k. Good car. But we really like the £29k petrol hybrid.

Let the automatic gearbox do its job and life will be smooth and easy, and he’ll drink slower than Uncle Barry in the next round. The hybrid is also quieter than the gasoline model – and more powerful.

It goes from 0 to 62 mph almost two seconds faster.

The steering is sharp and the cornering is reminiscent of a terrier.

This top-spec N-Sport trim has a larger 12-inch touchscreen, wireless smartphone charging pad and Bose headrest speakers. Classroom.

I’ve long wondered why car speakers are positioned near our feet and not near our potholes.