Photo: Nissan
In spite of clear warnings from the car industry on Brexit, including automakers that have factories in Great Britain, British citizens have voted for leaving the EU.
Almost a week after the election, everybody is wondering what kind of deals will the EU make with the United Kingdom, and the country’s car industry is also on its toes.
In the case of Sunderland, the city where Nissan has invested billions of euros in a car factory, 61.3 percent of the voters chose to leave the European Union, but some fear that the 6,700 jobs are at risk.
As Financial Times reports, workers are worried about the result of the vote, even if some of them admitted to being supporters of Brexit.
Workers admit being surprised by the popularity of “Leave,” and feel that Nissan might consider downsizing its factory over the years.
While not in danger in the next few years, Nissan’s Sunderland facility might become uncompetitive if the European Union will tax products made in the UK. Last year, the factory exported 55% of its output to the EU, so there is a reason for workers to worry.
The Renault/Nissan alliance has openly stated that it would be in their best interest for Great Britain to remain in the EU. Unfortunately, Brits have voted to leave in their consultative referendum.
If the UK government decides to follow the course and activate the “Lisbon clause,” all products made in the UK might be faced with import duties in European countries. Considering the price of an automobile, this would affect sales for all automakers with factories in Great Britain.
According to the quoted Nissan employees, who spoke to Financial Times under the cover of anonymity, they have feared about the competitivity of their plant for years, as the Renault/Nissan Alliance opened other sites in Europe and ACEA markets with lower wages.
With the whole Brexit situation, the corporation could decide not to introduce new models in the Sunderland factory, or even to shift production of some cars to other facilities.
At this point, we must note that Nissan has not issued a statement regarding the aftermath of the vote. The Japanese automaker will probably wait until the EU and UK strike a trade deal to decide what to do with its Sunderland facility, a plant which builds one in three cars made in the UK.
Closing this facility is probably not on the list for Nissan, but it would mean losing approximately 26,000 jobs in the area, as supplier jobs were not included in the 6,700 employees of the facility.
In the case of Sunderland, the city where Nissan has invested billions of euros in a car factory, 61.3 percent of the voters chose to leave the European Union, but some fear that the 6,700 jobs are at risk.
As Financial Times reports, workers are worried about the result of the vote, even if some of them admitted to being supporters of Brexit.
Workers admit being surprised by the popularity of “Leave,” and feel that Nissan might consider downsizing its factory over the years.
While not in danger in the next few years, Nissan’s Sunderland facility might become uncompetitive if the European Union will tax products made in the UK. Last year, the factory exported 55% of its output to the EU, so there is a reason for workers to worry.
The Renault/Nissan alliance has openly stated that it would be in their best interest for Great Britain to remain in the EU. Unfortunately, Brits have voted to leave in their consultative referendum.
If the UK government decides to follow the course and activate the “Lisbon clause,” all products made in the UK might be faced with import duties in European countries. Considering the price of an automobile, this would affect sales for all automakers with factories in Great Britain.
According to the quoted Nissan employees, who spoke to Financial Times under the cover of anonymity, they have feared about the competitivity of their plant for years, as the Renault/Nissan Alliance opened other sites in Europe and ACEA markets with lower wages.
With the whole Brexit situation, the corporation could decide not to introduce new models in the Sunderland factory, or even to shift production of some cars to other facilities.
At this point, we must note that Nissan has not issued a statement regarding the aftermath of the vote. The Japanese automaker will probably wait until the EU and UK strike a trade deal to decide what to do with its Sunderland facility, a plant which builds one in three cars made in the UK.
Closing this facility is probably not on the list for Nissan, but it would mean losing approximately 26,000 jobs in the area, as supplier jobs were not included in the 6,700 employees of the facility.
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