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23

APRIL 2011

ENGINEERING

NISSAN

BATTERY FACTORY

ME is going to build infrastructure with a 50 thousend batteries annual production

Mota-Engil Engenharia is going to build the Nissan battery factory in the industrial area of Cacia in Aveiro. This unit, the third of the kind for Nissan in Europe – following France and the United Kingdom – was awarded by Nissan Battery Manufactoring Portugal.

The infrastructure which is expected to be built within 19 months will occupy an area of around 21.300 m 2 and will attain an annual production of 50 thousand lithium ion batteries that will be used in Nissan Leaf in a frst phase.

The symbolic groundbreaking ceremony counted with the presence of José Sócrates, Prime Minister, Toshiuki Shiga, Head of Operations of the Japanese make and Carlos Tavares, Deputy-

-Chairman of Nissan Motor Co. The Mota-Engil Group was represented by António Mota, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Martinho Oliveira, Director of Mota-Engil Engenharia, who highlighted the importance of this project, the frst major investment in the electric vehicles area in Portugal.

José Sócrates stated that this factory which is expected to start operating in December 2012, represents “the start of an industrial cluster of extreme importance for the future: electrical mobility.” According to the Portuguese Head of State, “Portugal has led the mobility efort with zero emissions and this project will contribute toward the reinforcement of the national statute within the renewable energy sector.”