Ford calls for equal treatment in the UK against favouring Nissan

Recently, Ford Europe CEO Jim Farley will meet with the British Chancellor of the Exchequer this week to discuss the financial impact of Britain's withdrawal from Europe. Jim Farley pointed out that he hopes that Britain can provide a fair competition environment for all automakers.

"We think it would be unwise to favour one car company over another," Farley said, referring to Nissan's confirmation of production in the UK.

Since the UK voted to leave the EU on June 23, Nissan's production plan for two new models originally scheduled for Sunderland has been questioned. In September, CEO Ghosn said that Nissan might need to be compensated for the tariff barriers that may be caused by the UK's "Brexit". At the end of October, Nissan announced that it would place the production of two new cars in Sunderland, UK, to ensure continued investment in the English factory. Based on this, the British government may have reached a private investment agreement with Nissan.

Farley pointed out that Ford has more employees in the UK than Nissan and more than half of them are engineers, highly educated people and other important positions. In terms of employee size, Ford's number of employees in the UK is second only to Jaguar Land Rover. Ford produces engines in two factories in the UK and has R&D in the UK, but Ford does not have a car factory in the UK.

Farley, who will meet British Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond this week, said: “We are very happy to be in dialogue with the UK government. This is very important for us to confirm the tariff situation.”

On November 29, the Society of Automobile Manufacturers said that after Brexit, an imported car will need to pay about 1,500 pounds in taxes, and the cost of automobile trade between the UK and EU countries will increase by at least 4.5 billion pounds. Gareth Jones, president of the association, said that the British government should try its best to retain the zero tariff policy.

Farley said that after Brexit, car sales in the UK unexpectedly held up. Ford lowered its sales forecast after Brexit and then increased its European car production.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.