Nissan to build new Qashqai and X-Trail cars at Sunderland factory securing 7,000 jobs after post-Brexit ‘assurances’
NISSAN will build its new Qashqai and X-Trail SUVs in its Sunderland factory securing 7,000 jobs after post-Brexit "assurances" were made.
The decision to invest in the Sunderland plant - Britain's largest - will ease some Brexit fears.
Nissan's chief executive Carlos Ghosn had said in September that he could scrap new investment, without a guarantee of compensation for costs related to any new Brexit tariffs.
Mr Ghosn went to Downing Street for crunch talks with Prime Minister Theresa May earlier this month.
He said: "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."
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Mr Ghosn continued: "The support and assurances of the UK 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."
Mrs May has said the decision is "fantastic news for the UK".
The announcement is the first major UK automotive decision since the Brexit vote in June.
The Sunderland plant, which has been active since 1986, employs almost 7,000 people producing around 2,000 cars a day.
Last year it produced a total of 475,000 vehicles.
Today Liam Fox risked Theresa May’s fury yet again after demanding Britain must have a new EU trade deal in place within the two year exit process.
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