As an article in the FT stated a couple of days ago, this more about the Eu than Brexit, where I agree the uncertainty caused by an EU (and the remainders they control in our Parliament,) that cannot afford to let us go, is far more damaging than Brexit itself.Loss of face is unthinkable for the Japanese, who have a far more transparent corporate culture than Europe. The real story seems to be that the Qashqai had suffered engine failures for years, (article in the Guardian) and Diesel SUV sales were in freefall, due to punitive EU fuel/emission taxes, ironically the initial cause of the Yellow Vest protests.What no one in the MSM transcribed was the video from the end of last year, where Nissan CEO HIroto Saikawa confirms that Chair Carlos Ghosn has been arrested along with Greg Kelly for alleged financial misdemeanours. Nissan have formed an alliance with Renault, largely owned by the French government.Saikawa confirms that an investigation will take place and that there have been problems in terms of governance. "When the top of Renault is concurrently serving as the top of Nissan, with 43% of shares, one person has too much authority, and that was the problem".Hence a number of reasons to return promised production to Japan, where diesel tax is less than the UK, and closer to the growing car markets in India and China.The whole issue seems to have been built on May's promises behind closed doors to Nissan, with the X-Trail already being built in Japan anyway. No actual jobs lost in Sunderland thank goodness, just those that might have been promised.
Chantal Blake-Milton ● 2398d