Nissan makes U-turn over Brexit as bosses admit they were too gloomy about leaving the EU and insist the UK will be its European base ‘for the foreseeable future’

• Makoto Uchida insisted Britain will remain car maker’s European base 
• Making a fresh £2billion investment into its Sunderland factory
• After Brexit referendum, had been fears over the future of the UK hub

They have been among the most vocal critics of Brexit – but now bosses at Japanese carmaker Nissan have talked down its impact.

There was a ‘negligible’ effect from leaving the European Union, the firm said, while chief executive Makoto Uchida insisted Britain will remain its European base for ‘the foreseeable future’.

Nissan, which had warned about the effect of Brexit on its investment, now says it would not be making a fresh £2billion investment into its Sunderland factory if the UK was not still worthy.

Mr Uchida added: ‘I am quite surprised that people here in the UK are asking, “Why UK?” We have great people and great talent here.’

Instead, he said, Britons should back the nation’s business credentials more. After the Brexit referendum, there had been fears over the future of Nissan’s Sunderland hub, which employs 6,000 people and supports 70,000 supply chain jobs.

Nissan, which had warned about the effect of Brexit on its investment, now says it would not be making a fresh £2billion investment into its Sunderland factory if the UK was not still worthy.

After the Brexit referendum, there had been fears over the future of Nissan’s Sunderland hub (pictured), which employs 6,000 people and supports 70,000 supply chain jobs.

The company’s chiefs warned UK operations would not be ‘sustainable’ without a trade deal with the EU.

READ MORE: Nissan confirms £2bn EV investment in Britain: Electric Qashqai, Juke and Leaf to be made in Sunderland

But last week Nissan announced a multi-billion-pound plan for the North East, including funding for a third major battery plant.

It also confirmed it will make its latest electric Qashqai and Juke models at the factory, alongside the next generation of the electric Leaf. Mr Uchida told The Sunday Times the investment puts ‘our Sunderland plant at the heart of our future vision’.

Alan Johnson, Nissan’s senior vice-president of manufacturing, said the firm had ‘quickly adapted’ to a ‘more bureaucratic’ post-Brexit and it would not have a major impact on its prices. ‘It’s negligible,’ he said.

Meanwhile, the Government yesterday pledged £50million of newly allocated funding to boost the UK’s battery supply chain on the world stage by 2030.

Ministers said the battery sector alone could create 100,000 highly paid and skilled jobs in the UK.

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