Hard Brexit threatens jobs and investment in UK automotive industry

These stark warnings are from a Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) select committee report that predicts non-tariff barriers - border delays and increased bureaucracy – are also likely to harm UK competitiveness.

Titled The impact of Brexit on the Automotive Sector, the report recommends that government 'places a high premium' in its Brexit negotiations on securing frictionless trade for Britain’s volume automotive manufacturers.

Rachel Reeves MP, chair of the BEIS committee, said: "Innovative and efficient car plants across the country provide thousands of jobs and the automotive sector is a major contributor to our economic growth. There is no credible argument to suggest there are advantages to be gained from Brexit for the UK car industry.

“Regulatory consistency and friction-free trade benefits car companies, consumers and car-workers. The prime minister now needs to ensure common-sense pragmatism prevails and spell out the government's intention to seek continued regulatory and trading alignment with the EU in the automotive sector."