New Qashqai build ‘put back’
Nissan has put back production of its new Qashqai amid uncertainty over the coronavirus pandemic and Brexit, it has been reported.
The firm announced in October 2016 that it would build both a next generation o f th e b e s t- s e l l i n g f a m i l y crossover and a new X-Trail at its Sunderland plant.
This came after reassurances from the Government over the vote to leave the EU.
B u t t h e X-T r a i l p l a n s were scrapped in February 2 0 1 9 a n d fou r yea r s a f te r that initial announcement, the firm has still not announced a start date for production of the new Qashqai.
Now the Financial Times (FT) has reported that the Japanese giant has pushed production back until the middle of next year.
T h e pap e r s ays th at a l - though the decision is mainly due to the impact of the coronavirus on demand, the move will also allow the firm to analyse the impact of any Brexit deal – or lack of one – on its long-terms plans.
The UK has left the European Union, but remains part of the Customs Union
Nissan’s plant in Sunderland.
and Single Market until the end of the transition period on New Year’s Eve.
More than half the cars b u i l t at t h e S u n d e rl a n d p l a nt a re d e s t i n e d fo r th e European market and Nissan has repeatedly warned a "n o - d ea l ” Brex i t wou l d jeopardise the future of its UK operation.
O n a v i s i t to th e p l a nt last year, European chairm a n G i a n l u c a d e F i c c hy told reporters the company was desperate for clarity on what form the future relationship between the UK and EU would take.
He also said: “If a Nodeal scenario means a sudden application of the WTO (World Trade Organisation) tariffs, we know that in that case our business model won’t be sustainable in the future.”
T h e F T re p o r t s ays th e plant was due to begin building the new Qashqai in October but the date has now been put back to ‘after April 2021’.
A Nissan spokesperson s a i d : “P r e p a r at i o n s c o n - tinue for the launch of the n ew Q a s h qa i i n Su n d e r - l a n d , wh i c h re p re s e nt s a £400million investment in the plant.
"We h a v e n o t y e t a n - nounced a date for the nextgeneration model.
"But look forward to sharing some exciting news in the coming months.”