Nissan has announced today, October 27, that they will produce the next Qashqai model at its Sunderland Plant securing jobs hanging in the balance post-brexit.
Nissan’s plant in Washington celebrated 30 years of building cars on Wearside this year but the future of 7,000 workforce wasn’t secure due to the decision to leave the European Union.
It comes after Nissan warned only last month it could scrap investment in Sunderland and the UK because of the EU referendum, as triggering Article 50, would mean new trade and tariff deals needing to be negotiated for exporting goods.
The decision by Nissan today has been taken after the government made a commitment to ensure that the Sunderland plant remains competitive.
Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and CEO of Nissan said in a statement: “I am pleased to announce that Nissan will continue to invest in Sunderland. Our employees there continue to make the plant a globally competitive powerhouse, producing high-quality, high-value products every day.
“The support and assurances of the U.K. government enabled us to decide that the next-generation Qashqai and X-Trail will be produced at Sunderland. I welcome British Prime Minister Theresa May’s commitment to the automotive industry in Britain and to the development of an overall industrial strategy.”
While the Prime Minister Theresa May has welcomed the news.
She said: “This is fantastic news for the UK. Nissan is at the heart of this country’s strong automotive industry and so I welcome their decision to produce the Qashqai and a new model at their Sunderland plant.
“It is a recognition that the Government is committed to creating and supporting the right conditions for the automotive industry so it continues to grow now and in the future. This vote of confidence shows Britain is open for business and that we remain an outward-looking, world-leading nation.
“The Government will continue to work closely with employers and investors in creating a global Britain, a country where there are new opportunities for jobs and rewarding careers. Families across the North East will be delighted at this news today and I share in their enthusiasm for what this means not just for them, but for the whole of the UK”.
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