In a few weeks, the UK leaves the EU. After the Bankruptcy, the experienced Prime Minister with the negotiated exit of paper in the Parliament, there is a growing anxiety in the British car industry.
In the first, partly euphoric days after the now historic referendum that the UK should leave the European Union, turned to Theresa May and David Davis. The should redirect to the newly created outlet authority, and his ideas about how smoothly this would go, had to quickly.
“Just minutes after a Brexit-decision”, he had in a speech in London – four months before the Referendum – before, “knock said the heads of Mercedes, BMW, VW and Audi Chancellor Merkel the door. And then they will demand that all the British companies, which you have now, get a free access to the European market.”
Davis rocks seemed to be firmly convinced that in the exit negotiations between the UK and the EU, the mighty German car bosses for the interests of the United Kingdom would argue.
… and nothing learned
In the almost three years that have passed since his speech, seem his views have hardly changed. Just hours before Theresa may’s exit plan from the house destroyed and was rejected, he had tweeted: “The German industry is very afraid of an exit according to the rules of the WTO.”
Davies gave the impression that the threat of an exit according to the rules of the world trade organization, could be a trump card in the negotiations with the EU. In contrast to most of the analysts that such an outcome existence appears to be threatening – for the British economy.
An Aberration
The Brexit is now only weeks, and if the Appeals of BMW and the others have ever been in the Chancellery is part of the desired effect, you not have had anyway.
The thought of the future trade relations of the United Kingdom, with the EU could be ausbaldowern just beer and Bratwurst in Berlin, probably as an aberration in the history – such as David Davis’ career as a Minister.
And what’s more: The British car industry, of the more than one Million Jobs depend, in the United Kingdom alone, struggling more and more with the prospects of a hard Brexit and the inconvenience it will bring.
You’re right: The Mini is still built in England. In fact, the Small but for a German car manufacturer to.
April is the time to do is to Wait and tea
The BMW group is forging a number of international Car, for the Kingdom of let a low place of greater importance. Apart from the fact that the UK is the fourth largest market for the Bavarian car maker, the company has a large presence on the island: for example, the Mini plants in Oxford and Swindon, the Rolls-Royce factory in Goodwood and the Hams Hall engine factory in the Midlands.
On 1. April, the first working day after the exit from the EU, the BMW, the production in all of the UK-works for most of the month. The confirmed Graham Biggs, BMW speaker in the United Kingdom in respect of the DW.
The plants in Oxford and Swindon will be the production of up to 28. April break, Rolls-Royce will leave the work in the first two weeks of April to rest and the engine plants in Hams Hall will be closed for almost the whole month.
Graham Biggs: “As a responsible contractor, we look at the options and do what is necessary to be for the worst case, forearmed: a hard Brexit. Other than that, we use our annual maintenance period, we let the Austrittstag start. So we reduce the risk of unwanted loss of production due to short-term supply difficulties, when parts should remain in the channel ports.”
Biggs emphasized, however, that it is nothing special, to close plants for maintenance work, but this year the Timing had been changed – due to the Brexits.
In Sunderland, the Japanese car manufacturer Nissan employs around 6000 people.
Also for Japan is a big deal
Not only the BMW group is on the market in the United Kingdom is a great Player, is drawn from the Brexit affected. Even Nissan and Toyota are major employers, but they wouldn’t say anything about how you are preparing for a hard Brexit.
Toyota has already announced to close for the case of a hard Brexit his work in Derbyshire for an indefinite period of time. In the past year, the factory Director Marvin Cooke told the BBC: “the way I see things, production will be stopped in our work, if great Britain flying at the end of March from the Union.”
Honda announced last week to close its factory in the country for six days, to be able to “the risk of interruptions in production at our factory in Swindon better cushion.”
“The desire of the whole world”
While car builders are still quite cautious, if you are asked to long-term plans for the case of a hard Brexit, are the statements by Japan’s Prime Minister to be much clearer. Shinzo Abe made during his London visit last week, quite clearly, for how dark he thinks the prospects, should the UK leave the EU without a new contract. Finally, the current 28 countries of the EU is a trading the Federal government, which receives nearly 15 percent of Japanese exports and Japan is just a free-trade agreement has been completed.
“We hope from the bottom of my heart,” said Abe, “that’s a tough Brexit can be avoided – that seems to be in fact the desire of the whole world. Japan supports the discharge of the contract, the Prime Minister of Mays and the EU have negotiated.”
Rolls-Royce and the famous hood ornament: This icon of British automotive architecture is now part of BMW.
The Black Peter to London pushed
Conjectures about the ultimate Brexit and conditions are pointless, if you look at the current political climate of London. Therefore, the car companies are very careful not to say more than in the past, as long as you do not have a clearer picture of the situation.
Still some Brexiteers hope, unchanged deluded by the promises of a David Davis, that the German car maker will be pushing for the British to meet, no matter what that could mean for the interests of the EU.
Shortly before the Parliament should decide in the last week about the negotiated agreement with the EU, had called once again Nigel Farage, probably the greatest of all Brexiteers to word. He stated again his Belief that the German car industry would demand from the EU, the UK claims to give in order to avoid a hard Brexit,
However, nothing in the Statement of the mighty German automotive industry Association, the VDA is published after the vote, suggests a change in Opinion. On the contrary, he will all the blame and responsibility for London in the shoes pushes: “With today’s decision, the majority in Parliament has bestowed on the country a Bäendienst. Now a hard Brexit seems more likely than before – its consequences will be devastating.”
“We need an unimpeded flow of trade!”
While the supporters of a Brexit are still waiting for an Absolution that may never come, have to deal with those responsible in the auto industry, such as Graham Biggs of BMW with the increasing likelihood of a hard Brexit.
“An exit without a contract, a hard Brexit, would be the worst possible Alternative for the economy. He would rip our world-wide network of production and trade relations,” said Biggs to the DW. “What we have always said that We need an unobstructed view to the trade. It is very clear when it comes to a hard Brexit.”