Newcastle-based independent chartered accountancy and business advisory firm UNW has been instrumental in helping JATCO, a Japanese-headquartered Tier 1 automotive supplier and key partner to Nissan, establish operations in the North East.
The newly announced 138,840 sq ft JATCO factory at the International Advanced Manufacturing Park, close to Nissan’s Sunderland plant, is scheduled for completion in 2026. It will produce electrified powertrains for Nissan’s all-electric models—while creating more than 180 highly skilled jobs and providing a major boost to the UK automotive industry.
The company has secured grant funding from the Government’s Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF) to support its £48.7m investment. UNW’s grants support team was engaged jointly by the Government and JATCO to conduct the financial due diligence. Alongside this, UNW is also providing JATCO with post-investment support in relation to outsourced accounting and tax compliance.
JATCO has supplied over 129 million automatic transmissions to the global automotive market since its establishment in 1970. The UK will become the company’s fourth country for overseas production, joining existing plants in Mexico, China, and Thailand.
For more than 25 years, UNW has supported businesses in applying for government grants, providing technical expertise and serving as a due diligence provider for various national grant awarding bodies.
Since 2012, UNW has worked on over 30 projects with 26 different companies in the automotive sector, helping them access Government grants totalling over £350m.
UNW’s team has extensive knowledge of the automotive industry and has participated in several ATF projects, acting both as due diligence provider and adviser.
Lara Marshall, Grants Support Manager at UNW, said: “Securing investment of this scale requires not only financial due diligence but also a deep understanding of the funding landscape and the needs of inward investors. At UNW, we specialise in supporting businesses looking to establish or expand operations in the UK, helping them navigate complex funding processes and ensuring they have the right financial structures in place. It has been a pleasure working with JATCO on this landmark project, and we look forward to continuing our support as they establish their presence in the North East.”
Speaking on UNW’s support throughout the process, Fumitaka Nishimura, Senior Vice President of JATCO and head of the project, said: “Establishing our first UK production facility is a significant milestone for JATCO, and securing support from the Automotive Transformation Fund has been a crucial part of making this investment possible. UNW’s expertise and guidance throughout the due diligence process have been invaluable, ensuring a smooth and efficient application. Their deep understanding of government funding and the automotive sector has given us confidence as we take this important step in expanding our global operations.”
