[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/brexit-boost-nissan-commits-uk\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/brexit-boost-nissan-commits-uk\/","headline":"Brexit boost as Nissan commits to UK","name":"Brexit boost as Nissan commits to UK","description":"One of the biggest fears before June\u2019s EU Referendum was what Britain\u2019s self-imposed departure from the European Union would mean for its booming car manufacturing industry. 2015 marked a ten-year high with 1.58 million new vehicles built in the UK and almost four in five of those heading overseas. Britain\u2019s car production industry supports thousands of jobs and is vital to the nation\u2019s growth, and the support is mutual; some of the world\u2019s best-known car makers have factories in the […]","datePublished":"2016-11-24","dateModified":"2017-01-25","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/matthew-collett\/#Person","name":"Matthew Collett","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/matthew-collett\/","identifier":5,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/64eca1152247aa111ace79ff1c03782b175df9dc21d2092364ff21e1cf5e38fa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/64eca1152247aa111ace79ff1c03782b175df9dc21d2092364ff21e1cf5e38fa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/feature-32.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/feature-32.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/brexit-boost-nissan-commits-uk\/","about":["LATEST CAR NEWS"],"wordCount":539,"keywords":["aston martin","Bentley","Brexit","eu","Jaguar Land Rover","Mini","nissan","nissan juke","nissan leaf","Nissan Qashqai","Nissan X-Trail","toyota"],"articleBody":"One of the biggest fears before June\u2019s EU Referendum was what Britain\u2019s self-imposed departure from the European Union would mean for its booming car manufacturing industry.2015 marked a ten-year high with 1.58 million new vehicles built in the UK and almost four in five of those heading overseas.Britain\u2019s car production industry supports thousands of jobs and is vital to the nation\u2019s growth, and the support is mutual; some of the world\u2019s best-known car makers have factories in the UK, from Aston Martin in Gaydon and Bentley in Crewe to Jaguar Land Rover in Solihull, Mini in Oxford and Toyota in Derbyshire.Nissan is one of the bigger names too. Its Sunderland plant employs a workforce of around 6,700, producing some of the brand\u2019s most popular models, namely the mega-selling Qashqai and the smaller Juke as well as its all-electric Leaf amongst others.So people took notice when Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn fired warning shots that the Japanese car manufacturer could consider closing its Sunderland factory if the UK left the EU in the lead-up to the vote, fearing production could be shared out amongst one of the nine plants it shares with Renault in France when the Leave vote came through.RemainNissan\u2019s continued presence in the UK remained uncertain until late October when the brand confirmed that the next generation Qashqai would take place at the Tyne-and-Wear plant, confirming the plant\u2019s lifespan well into the next decade and securing almost 7,000 jobs. The addition of the X-Trail to Sunderland\u2019s roster was an unexpected surprise too.The decision to stay came after prime minister Theresa May intervened to personally reassure Nissan that she would be able to secure tariff-free access to European markets.Even Colin Lawther, Nissan\u2019s European senior vice president for manufacturing, purchasing, and supply chain management, admits it\u2019s something of a leap of faith.\u201cIt comes down to trust at the end of the day,\u201d he told the Guardian. \u201cWe are confident the government is taking sufficient measures to make sure the whole of the automotive industry will be competitive at the end of the process.\u201dHe added that there was no financial package \u201coutside the normal, in the public domain request, for grant support\u201d.Details?But one month has passed and we\u2019re none the wiser what those reassurances are. Even the Japanese Ambassador to the UK Koji Tsuruoka says he doesn\u2019t know. It\u2019s entirely possible to foresee that if Mrs May falls short on her promise that any eventual tariffs would be covered by the taxpayer.Since the Referendum, one fairly major carmaker – MG – has pulled out of the UK after the cost of assembly at its Longbridge plant was aggravated by the weakened pound in the wake of June\u2019s Brexit vote.This begs the question \u2018can the government really go round making promises to every carmaker to convince them to stay?\u2019.They probably won\u2019t need to; many carmakers are happy to keep production in the UK, confident that building cars here will remain cost-effective. Read our separate feature on how different carmakers have reacted since the Brexit vote.So keep calm and carry on? We\u2019ll have to wait and see\u2026"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Brexit boost as Nissan commits to UK","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/brexit-boost-nissan-commits-uk\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]