Here's How Britain's Automakers Are Reacting to Brexit

by Mark Stevenson

Published: June 24th, 2016

here s how britain s automakers are reacting to brexit

The United Kingdom, through referendum, has decided to break off from Europe and go it alone. But what of all the auto manufacturers that produce vehicles in the island nation? And of their employees? And trade?

We won’t know the answers to those questions until the UK and European governments sort out how the two entities will work together in the future. For now, it’s business as usual. Though, thanks to Autocar, we at least have reactions from the big players in the UK’s automotive industry.

BMW, manufacturer of Mini in the UK

“BMW Group respects the British electorate’s decision to leave the EU. While it is clear there will now be a period of uncertainty, there will be no immediate change to our operations in the UK.”

Ford

“Ford’s priority has always been the need to maintain a stable trading environment so that we can continue building a strong and sustainably profitable business in the UK and Europe, and thereby provide a more secure future for our nearly 14,000 direct employees in the UK.

“We will continue working toward this goal with key stakeholders in the UK and across the other Member States and EU institutions to ensure they understand our concerns, which mirror those of the majority of the UK and European auto industry.

“While Ford will take whatever action is needed to ensure that our European business remains competitive and keeps to the path toward sustainable profitability, we have made no changes to our current investment plans and will not do so unless there is clear evidence that action is needed.”

Jaguar Land Rover

“For Jaguar Land Rover, today is just business as usual. We are a British business with a strong manufacturing base in this country, we call Britain home and we remain committed to all our manufacturing sites and investment decisions.

“We respect the decision of the British people and in common with all other businesses, Jaguar Land Rover will analyse the issues arising from it: as of today, nothing has changed for us or the rest of the British automotive industry.

“Europe is a key strategic market for our business, comprising 20% of global sales, and we remain absolutely committed to our customers in the EU.

“There will be a significant negotiating period, and we need to understand more about that as details emerge. We will work hard with all parties to ensure that the importance of the British automotive industry is fully understood at every level of the negotiation process.”

Nissan

The Autocar report states Nissan declined to comment, but it mentioned that the Japanese brand plans to sue the Vote Leave campaign after its logo was used in a flyer.

Toyota

“Going forward, we will closely monitor and analyse the impact on our business operations in the UK, and how we can maintain competitiveness and secure sustainable growth together with the UK automotive industry and other stakeholders.”

Vauxhall, General Motors brand in the UK

“It is important for Vauxhall that negotiations on the UK’s future relationship with the EU are concluded in a timely manner. It is also important that business continues to benefit from the free movement of goods and people during this period.

“Communication on the development of the future relationship with the EU should also be clear and transparent. We fully support remaining part of the European Economic Area.”

Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)

“The British public has chosen a new future out of Europe. Government must now maintain economic stability and secure a deal with the EU which safeguards UK automotive interests.

“This includes securing tariff-free access to European and other global markets, ensuring we can recruit talent from the EU and the rest of the world and making the UK the most competitive place in Europe for automotive investment.”

[Image: Wikipedia]

#Automakers #BMW #Brexit #Ford #GeneralMotors #Jaguar #LandRover #MINI #Nissan #Reactions #Toyota #Vauxhall #SocietyOfMotorManufacturersAndTraders #Smmt

Mark Stevenson

More by Mark Stevenson

Comments

Join the conversation

5 of 79 comments

Sector 5 on Jun 24, 2016

How much of the 4% margin was just anti-Cameron vote? What has the civil service been upto witb China and Putin? The foriegn office spins policy, prime ministers come and go and are just a front for the domestic scene. Putin has been so quiet. Behind the scenes deals must have been reached. Then they sign with China asian bank and reduce the number of aircraft carriers from 7 to 3. No big presence in the south china seas...

Like Reply
Zipper69 on Jun 25, 2016

As a Brit who lived and worked in Europe for almost a decade until 2007 I weep for the unthinking morons that waved the "Little England" flag and allowed xenophobia to control them. The question they failed to ask themselves: "What benefit does exit from the EU give to the UK?" The answer is of course. none. The market has tumbled, exchange rate in the crapper and thousands of expat Brits in Europe now uncertain as to their status. Mentioned in my Florida paper today, Brits who have holiday homes in Spain, Italy and Greece. Currently they can stay year round, if they are suddenly just "foreigners" will they be like non-US citizens here and be forced to limit their visits to, say six months? What of the tens of thousands of EU citizens living and working in the UK? Will they have a Trump-style roundup and deportation? I see there is already a million signature petition for a second vote...too little, too late ! I saw this retrograde thinking process building up which is why I chose to find a safe haven in the USA and happily become a citizen.

Like Reply
- See 2 previous
- Lorenzo on Jun 26, 2016
  
  The biggest price will be paid by the Germans. The whole EU idea was a plot to leverage German industrial might to conquer the continent, and the British have foiled them again. Notice how when every measure the Germans didn't like was proposed, the German judges would declare those measures would violate the German Constitution, and unless changed, Germany would have to leave the Union, endangering its survival? No other country in the EU had that kind of veto power over the unelected bureaucratic elite who actually run the EU. Germany was the "first among equals", and history has shown how that arrangement ends up. Germany's ministers work hand-in-hand with the commissioners who write laws and regulations, and often ARE the "kommisars" as the Germans themselves call them. The parliament can't even propose, much less pass laws, and there's no chief executive, so there's no counterweight to German dominance of the unelected back room commissions. Zipper, you need to face the fact that all the open borders/free trade/freedom of movement and opportunity was just propaganda to disguise the attempted hegemony of Europe by its richest country, Germany. The biggest financial damage will be suffered by the Germans, not the British. The Brexit vote has just stopped the whole underhanded scheme to convert a common market trade arrangement into a German dominated super-state in its tracks. If you don't believe it, watch what Germany does in the coming months to attempt to salvage the operation. The measures required to suppress other referenda and keep the remaining member states in line will not be subtle.
  
  Like
- Lou_BC on Jun 27, 2016
  
  zipper69 - looks like the Scotts are going to try to block Brexit.
  
  Like
- 28-Cars-Later on Jun 27, 2016
  
  @Lou_BC Leaving one union to join another, so much for "independence". Freedumb!
  
  Like

Recent Comments

Tassos NEVER. All season tires are perfectly adequate here in the Snowbelt MI. EVEN if none of my cars have FWD or AWD or 4WD but the most challenging of all, RWD, as all REAL cars should.
Gray Here in Washington state they want to pass a law dictating what tires you can buy or not. They want to push economy tires in a northern state full of rain and snow. Everything in my driveway wears all terrains. I'm not giving that up for an up to 3 percent difference.
1995 SC I remember when Elon could do no wrong. Then we learned his politics and he can now do no right. And we is SpaceX always left out of his list of companies?
Steve Biro I’ll try one of these Tesla driverless taxis after Elon takes one to and from work each and every day for five years. Either he’ll prove to me they are safe… or he’ll be dead. Think he’ll be willing to try it?
Theflyersfan After the first hard frost or freeze - if the 10 day forecast looks like winter is coming - that's when the winter tires go on. You can call me a convert to the summer performance tire and winter tire car owner. I like the feel of the tires that are meant to be used in that season, and winter tires make all of the difference in snowy conditions. Plus, how many crazy expensive Porsches and Land Rovers do we see crashed out after the first snow because there's a chance that the owner still kept their summer tires on. "But...but...but I have all wheel drive!!!" Yes, so all four tires that now have zero grip can move in unison together.