Foreign investors seek assurances and transparency in post-Brexit world

The Nissan Qashqai is one of the UK’s most popular family cars, and this greatly influenced my family’s decision to replace our old car with one earlier this year. That, and the fact that it is a ‘local make’: the crossover SUV is built in Sunderland in Northeast England, which to us means cheaper spare parts and maintenance.

So it was welcome news that that Nissan Motor Co will continue to produce its next generation Qashqai and new X-Trail models at its Sunderland factory, reportedly the UK’s biggest and most productive car plant responsible for a third of the country’s car output. The decision announced late last month made headlines for being one of the first major investments in the UK’s automotive industry since the country’s vote to leave the European Union (EU), giving post-Brexit Britain a much-needed confidence boost.

The Japanese carmaker’s continued commitment in the UK also attracted considerable attention as barely a month ago, Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn announced a deferment of all new investments in its Sunderland plant. Citing Brexit uncertainties, Ghosn had voiced concerns shared by many auto manufacturers that exports of UK-assembled cars to the EU could face tariffs — as much as 10% — should the UK fail to reach a free-trade deal with the bloc in its Brexit negotiations and have to revert to basic World Trade Organization rules.

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