Nissan's planned Sunderland production cuts put hundreds of jobs at risk, report says

News comes hours after report BMW could move production from UK to Austria in event of no-deal Brexit

Nissan is considering plans to cut production line shifts at its Sunderland operation, according to a report.

The Japanese car maker could put 400 jobs at risk if it goes ahead with the plan, Sky News said.

The company said: “Nissan does not comment on rumors or speculations.”

Last month, Nissan confirmed that it had abandoned plans to build its new X-Trail SUV in Sunderland, and instead moved production to Japan.

At the time, the carmaker’s Europe division boss said Brexit uncertainty had played a part in the decision, in addition to reduced sales forecasts.

Gianluca de Ficchy said the announcement would be “interpreted by a lot of people as a decision related to Brexit” and that “uncertainty around the UK’s future relationship with the EU is not helping companies like ours to plan for the future”.

The latest threat to motor manufacturing jobs comes hours after it emerged that BMW might move some of its engine production from the UK to Austria in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Peter Shwarzenbauer, a member of BMW’s board, said the company will also “have to consider” ending production of the Mini at its Oxford plant if the UK leaves the EU with no deal.

The car maker has previously announced plans to bring a planned shutdown of its Oxford operations forward to begin on the same day the UK leaves the EU.

Tuesday’s announcements from Nissan and BMW are the latest in a series of blows to the UK car industry, following recent moves by Ford, Jaguar Land Rover and Honda to reduce their workforces and cut costs.