Priority is people in coronavirus outbreak
Nissan's leaders are ready to handle any crisis brought on by an outbreak of the coronavirus, its top boss has said.
Ashwani Gupta said the firm is keeping a look out across its world-wide operations as the illness spreads, with car manufacturers elsewhere already facing difficulties in keeping production moving due to supply issues.
As of today, Friday, the Government has said 20,338 people have been tested in the UK, of which 20,175 were confirmed negative and 163 were confirmed as positive.
One patient who tested positive for COVID-19 has died.
During a visit to the Sunderland plant, Mr Gupta said the firm was prepared for any concerns.
The coronavirus originated in Wuhan, where the carmaker’s Chinese operations are based, and it closed a plant in Japan for a number of days due to a shortage of parts made in China.
It has said it had also taken steps to ensure work continues by making alternative transport arrangements for supplies, contracting planes, but ensuring no people have been exposed to the risk of contracting the virus.
It is monitoring the situation across as it looked to keep operations moving, track the impact of the virus across the world and support its staff.
Mr Gupta said the company had previously overcome issues caused by tsunami sand earthquake sand was prepared for any concerns.
He said: “Nissan's strength going into a crisis that our organisationis agile, and I’ m very proud of that.
”When it comes to the coronavirus, we have had no response for European operations,but of course in China we have closed the plant but also in Japan where the X-Trail is made. The priority is people.”