Nissan is to build plants in the UK and Portugal to make lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles in one of the biggest investments by a carmaker since the industry entered the downturn last year.

The Japanese carmaker said it would invest more than £200m ($330m) in a battery production facility employing 350 people in Sunderland, north-east England, and a €250m ($355m) factory employing 200 in Portugal, where it is studying several possible sites.