Nissan to drop UK production of Qashqai in no-deal Brexit scenario

Nissan is reportedly planning to cut production of its Qashqai model at its Sunderland plant if the UK crashes out of the European Union.

According to the Financial Times, the closure could put at risk 7,000 employees since Qashqai accounts for two-thirds of all production at Sunderland.

Around 440,000 Qashqais are produced by Nissan at Sunderland each year.

The Japanese carmaker promised in 2016 to build the new version of the SUV in Sunderland, after receiving assurances from Theresa May’s government that it would not be impacted by Brexit.

On Tuesday, Nissan said its plans to build the Qashqai in Sunderland “have not changed”.

But it added: “Today we are among those companies with major investments in the UK who are still waiting for clarity on what the future trading relationship between the UK and the EU will look like.

“As a sudden change from those rules to the rules of the World Trade Organisation will have serious implications for British industry, we urge UK and EU negotiators to work collaboratively towards an orderly balanced Brexit that will continue to encourage mutually beneficial trade.

“Since 1986, the UK has been a production base for Nissan in Europe. Our British-based R&D and design teams support the development of products made in Sunderland, specifically for the European market.

“Frictionless trade has enabled the growth that has seen our Sunderland plant become the biggest factory in the history of the UK car industry, exporting more than half of its production to the EU.”

In March, Nissan said it would also cease production of the Infiniti at Sunderland, putting a further 250 jobs at risk.