Bedfordshire Euro MP, Robert Sturdy, Welcomes Nissan’s Investment Boost to the Region
Japanese car manufacturer Nissan has announced that it is to build the next version of its Qashqai model in car plants in Britain. Production will be split between its three UK plants, with Cranfield in Bedfordshire acting as the technical site. Nissan also plans to invest £192 million in its plants across Britain, helping to safeguard some 6,000 jobs nationwide.
The decision is seen as a major endorsement for British manufacturing and is an important step towards rebalancing the UK economy. The East of England is known not just as a traditional manufacturing hub but increasingly as a centre for research and innovation.
Robert Sturdy, MEP for the Eastern Region and vice-Chairman of the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee welcomed the news:
“This is great for jobs in Bedfordshire, which has historically been a hub for automobile industry in the UK. It demonstrates that real action is being taken in the interest of British workers”
“We have a deep longstanding trading relationship with Japan with combined foreign direct investment at around €200 billion a year and this is expected to increase on completion of the ongoing trade negotiations between European and Japanese officials.”
“I hope that the conclusion of the ongoing EU-Japan Free Trade Agreement negotiations will bring even more investment to the region in the near future.”
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For further information contact: Robert Sturdy MEP– robert.sturdy@europarl.europa.eu
Tel: 01954 211790 or 0032 2284 7294
