Macron makes car industry rescue conditional on upping car production in France - this could have knock on effects on plants here, particularly at a time when car industry faces 10% tariff on exports and imports if there’s no post Brexit trade deal... bbc.com/news/business-…
Spanish Government too has been pitching hard to Nissan for survival of its Barcelona plant, after leaks (had desired result?) ahead of anticipated announcements tomorrow suggested production moved to France & Sunderland would focus on SUVs: amp.expansion.com/empresas/motor…
quite an interesting interaction though between the Covid rescues /bailouts/ talks some carmakers in UK are asking for and the rising prospect of tariffs on car exports to main European market...
Eg could assuage car industry no deal concern with bigger covid rescue...
Eg could assuage car industry no deal concern with bigger covid rescue...
Renault-Nissan- Mitsubishi announce new details of alliance...
“renewal of the C-SUV segment post-2025 will be led by Nissan, while the future renewal of the B-SUV segment in Europe will be led by Renault.”... former is Qashqai, latter Juke.
alliance-2022.com/news/alliance-…
“renewal of the C-SUV segment post-2025 will be led by Nissan, while the future renewal of the B-SUV segment in Europe will be led by Renault.”... former is Qashqai, latter Juke.
alliance-2022.com/news/alliance-…
So in theory as reported earlier in month - opportunity for Renault SUVs to be made at Sunderland...
But will they make that conditional on zero tariff trade deal - could they really move Renault SUV production to UK expecting a 10% tariff?
& Macron currently offering billions
But will they make that conditional on zero tariff trade deal - could they really move Renault SUV production to UK expecting a 10% tariff?
& Macron currently offering billions
If the Renault SUVs are moved to Sunderland, Government will be keen to claim that as a success.
If it is then made conditional on zero tariffs - then what does that do to the Governments current posture on no trade deal/ no extension?
If it is then made conditional on zero tariffs - then what does that do to the Governments current posture on no trade deal/ no extension?
Nissan Barcelona plant closing, according to reports in Spanish press...
Overall 20% cut in Nissan production capacity .. “Maintain production of core models at our UK plant in Sunderland and improve efficiency... we intend to close Barcelona plant” 
Nothing yet on that rumoured Renault production move - which predated the Macron bailout/ cash for clunkers ... though Renault has its results press conference tomorrow.
Nothing from Renault this morning on previous reports that they’d shift production of Kadjar and Captur to Nissan Sunderland... indeed the safety of the two Spanish factories that produce those cars guaranteed - not affected by rather significant cuts elsewhere...
This is one connected analyst of Japanese multinationals take - Renault now in charge of alliance in Europe...
With Renault now getting billions in French state subsidised loans, Macron explicitly demanding say in production, Spain factories safe, Renault now in charge of alliance with Nissan in Europe
...producing EU market Renaults in Sunderland behind 10% tariffs looks a challenge...
...producing EU market Renaults in Sunderland behind 10% tariffs looks a challenge...
NEW: “You know we’re number 1 carmaker in UK & we want to continue. We are committed. Having said that, if we aren’t getting the current tariffs, it's not our intention but the business will not be sustainable. That's what everybody has to understand." Nissan COO to @BBCSimonJack
Here is the full story from my colleague Simon J after interviewing Nissan’s second in command:
UK factory and entire European business not sustainable with no post Brexit trade deal and 10% WTO tariffs on U.K. car exports to EU (70% of production)
bbc.co.uk/news/business-…
UK factory and entire European business not sustainable with no post Brexit trade deal and 10% WTO tariffs on U.K. car exports to EU (70% of production)
bbc.co.uk/news/business-…
No contradiction with what Nissan said last week...
It shut underused van/pickup Barca factory, & didnt move production to UK.
Nissan said deprioritising Europe but not withdrawing so Sunderland stays.
Renault did not say moving production to Sunderland, kept Spanish factories
It shut underused van/pickup Barca factory, & didnt move production to UK.
Nissan said deprioritising Europe but not withdrawing so Sunderland stays.
Renault did not say moving production to Sunderland, kept Spanish factories
So as Nissan COO tells Simon company is committed to Sunderland factory, but “having said that” as Gupta puts it, European business of which factory is biggest hub, not sustainable if combined efforts of U.K. & EU negotiators puts factory behind 10% trade tariff wall...
Renault just finalised state backed €5bn loan from French Govt
Don’t dispute FT’s excellent @Petercampbell1 scoop there are options should 0 tariffs continue, but as @BBCSimonJack says Nissan says WTO tariffs make production not sustainable for existing production, let alone new
Don’t dispute FT’s excellent @Petercampbell1 scoop there are options should 0 tariffs continue, but as @BBCSimonJack says Nissan says WTO tariffs make production not sustainable for existing production, let alone new
Biz minister @nadhimzahawi asked by Jo Coburn about Nissan, acknowledges they say tariffs wd make Sunderland uncompetitive - “thats in no deal..we’re straining every sinew to get a deal..if goodwill there, we will deliver a deal that is good for Nissan and the UK” #PoliticsLive
