Decision on Nissan car jobs put back

Jan 19 2010 By William Green, The Journal

CAR giant Nissan will not announce whether it will build electric vehicles in the North East until after the general election.

Top company executive Trevor Mann yesterday said a decision about electric car manufacture at Nissan’s Washington plant would be made in May or June despite initial signs an announcement would come in December.

It means the region will not find out about the critical decision until after the general election amid predictions the poll will be held in March or – more likely – May.

Nissan’s Washington plant, which employs more than 3,000 workers, is bidding against a company plant in Portugal to build the manufacturer’s LEAF electric car, which could create thousands of jobs locally.

In further news, shadow Tory business minister Mark Prisk refused to give a cast-iron guarantee on whether a David Cameron government would support Nissan in bringing electric car production to the North East.

The developments came after The Journal asked the pair about regional electric car manufacture at a seminar in Parliament yesterday afternoon.

The event, held to look at the challenges and opportunities facing the British car industry, was arranged by Sunderland City Council and supported by Nissan.

Mr Mann, Nissan senior vice-president for manufacturing in Europe, said: "We are as keen as everybody else to secure the factory.

"There is a lot of work taking place. There should be some decision by the early summer."

Speaking after the event, he said this would be in May or June – but insisted it was nothing to do with the looming general election.

"We will be doing what is required by the business," said Mr Mann.

He added the company would be happy to talk to any government, whether that was Tory, Labour or Liberal Democrat.

His comments came after Shadow Business Minister Mark Prisk refused to promise that a Tory government would back Nissan’s electric vehicle plans. Mr Prisk said it was not possible because the Conservatives had not seen the public finance "books".

He said: "I have no doubt that Nissan will come forward with sensible proposals. I will want to look at those with [Shadow Business Secretary] Ken Clarke and we will want to give all reasonable support to them we can."

He stressed that he had "every faith" in Nissan, but did not want to give an "off-the-cuff" remark now.

"What I will say to you is that it will be treated very seriously because this sector is very important and very important to this part of the world," said Mr Prisk.