Japanese car maker Toyota who also makes Lexus in the UK has said on Tuesday, that a no-deal Brexit could make it difficult, to “think about … introduction of another model.”
Toyota makes the hybrid powered Corolla model in Burnaston, Derbyshire and began production of the hybrid in January.
Didier Leroy, chairman of Toyota’s European operations, said that a no-deal Brexit of the EU withdrawal talks will be “terrible” and would create “big additional challenges” to UK operation’s competitiveness.
Leroy’s comments came after Honda announced they are to close the Swindon car factory and has scrapped plans to build, the new X-Trail SUV in Sunderland.
Leroy told the Financial Times the £240m investment into the hybrid Corolla was done on “significant trust in the UK that they would be able to achieve a good deal in Europe.”
He continued to say that the car manufacturer has “no plan today to withdraw from the UK and stop production.”
However, Leroy added “If we don’t have access to the European market without a specific border tax, it seems to be extremely complicated to think about … introduction of another model.”
“No-deal is terrible, it will create big additional challenges to keep competitiveness.”
Leroy urges MPs not to “create a huge mountain” and to “decide on what’s best for employment” when MPs vote next week.
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