Nissan commits to continue making cars in Britain – despite threats over Brexit
NISSAN is to continue making the Leaf and other cars in Britain despite threats to relocate because of Brexit. It even says the UK’s independence gives it a competitive advantage. The Japanese car giant had warned it would pull out of Sunderland but yesterday confirmed the U-turn over its plant there, which employs 6,000. Boris […]
NISSAN is to continue making the Leaf and other cars in Britain despite threats to relocate because of Brexit.
It even says the UK’s independence gives it a competitive advantage.
The Japanese car giant had warned it would pull out of Sunderland but yesterday confirmed the U-turn over its plant there, which employs 6,000.
Boris Johnson hailed it a “great vote of confidence” after the manufacturer pledged its long-term future to the UK thanks to his Brussels deal.
Nissan’s chief operating officer Ashwani Gupta said the PM’s trade pact with the EU had prevented major disruption and dismissed checks and paperwork at the border as “peanuts”.
His comments marked a radical departure from its previous warnings that leaving the EU threatened its UK operations.
He told the BBC: “The Brexit deal is positive for Nissan. It has created a competitive environment for Sunderland, not just inside the UK but outside as well.
“In certain conditions, our competitiveness is improved.”
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The firm will also now manufacture its new 62kWh battery in Sunderland for export to the EU.
As well as the Leaf electric, it also makes the Juke and Qashqai models at the plant.
Production could be nearly doubled to 350,000 cars a year.
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