‘Dire consequences’ for British car factories if there’s no deal, says Ford
FORD Motors warned of dire consequences for British factories employing more than 7,000 people if politicians fail to avert a no-deal Brexit.
While cautioning that it had yet to reach any decision, the US auto giant said a hard Brexit would be “catastrophic” for the British car industry and its own production facilities.
“We have long urged the UK government and parliament to work together to avoid the country leaving the EU on a no-deal, hard Brexit basis,” the Michiganbased company said.
“We will take whatever action is necessary to preserve the competitiveness of our European business.”
Ford made the comments after the London ‘Times’ newspaper reported that the manufacturer had used a telephone call with prime minister Theresa May to reveal that it had stepped up preparations to move production out of Britain.
Ford employs 13,000 people there, mainly at plants in Bridgend, Wales, and Dagenham, near London.
The company said last month that it would merge its UK head office with a
nearby technical centre to cut costs, while warning that measures in the event of a no-deal Brexit would be significantly more dramatic.
BMW AG said separately that it was taking Brexit-related decisions “as late as operationally possible” as the clock counts down to the March 29 split.
Auto-industry investment in the UK dropped 46pc last year to the lowest since the financial crisis as other brands with British plants put key decisions on hold.
While carmakers are stockpiling parts to safeguard British output should supply chains be disrupted, many have also brought forward planned maintenance stops to April.