Nissan boss wants British Government to foot the bill if the EU puts up tax barriers after Brexit
The Japanese car giant has not ruled out leaving the UK entirely - putting nearly 7,000 jobs at risk
THE boss of Nissan has demanded Brexit compensation from ministers - threatening to scrap future investment in his Sunderland plant without it.
Carlos Ghosn, the manufacturers’ chief executive, wants guarantees for the UK’s biggest car plant in Sunderland over possible EU tariffs post Brexit.
Mr Ghosn, whose North East factory employs almost 7,000 people, said he couldn’t afford to delay plans for the plant.
He said: “Important investment decisions will not be made in the dark.
"If there are tax barriers being established on cars, you have to have a commitment for carmakers who export to Europe that there is some kind of compensation.
“If I can’t wait until the end of Brexit, then I have to make a deal with the UK government.
"You can have commitments of compensation in case you have something negative.”
The Nissan chief said the firm were “happy to stay” in the UK but would consider leaving if conditions make it untenable.
He was backed by the UK’s car trade body, which says 814,000 jobs in the sector could be affected by Brexit.
They fear the UK will end up trading with Europe under World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules, which could effectively add 10 per cent to the price of a UK-made vehicle sold in the EU.
Toyota have also said tariffs could make it super tough for them to operate in Britain.
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Ross Smith, of the North East England Chamber of Commerce, said: “Anyone making a long-term investment decision will want certainty over trading conditions and the tax framework.
“For the good of the North East economy, we need the Government to be as clear as possible as soon as possible.”
