Nissan dismisses reports it is set to close its Sunderland plant

Reports on social media have quoted a German automotive magazine which has claimed an un-named manager at the firm has said the factory is facing the axe.

The reports say the source’s comments translate as ‘Nissan plans to close its Sunderland plant....A decision has been made and it’s not favourable for the UK’.

We have spoken to Nissan tonight and they have dismissed the reports.

The firm has previously warned that the future of its Sunderland factory could be in doubt in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Global chief operating officer Ashwani Gupta told the BBC earlier this year that the EU was the biggest customer for vehicles built at Sunderland, with around 70 per cent of cars from there going to the EU.

And he said that a 10 per cent tariff - which would be the default World Trade Organisation rate in the event of no-deal - would mean such an arrangement was not viable.

Sunderland currently produces the electric Leaf and Juke and is due to begin production of a third generation of the Qashqai which will go on sale next year.

It was reported in September that the company has pushed back production until the middle of 2021 amid ungoing uncertainty over Brexit and the coronavirus.