Vauxhall Brexit after 2020?

[PurpleGorilla]

Brexit did cause the pound to slump and caused the cost of component imports to rise.

Agreed GM have never made any money in Europe and for the last few years have lost a lot of money, the weak currency just pushed this forward, in fact GM have made a statement this week that they will now only make cars in Asia and North America.

What will be interesting is if the new Astra will be built in the UK, this will be a decision that will be made at the time Brexit will be coming to its final conclusion, higher import costs , easier to fire UK workers and the fact that we will be outside the EU could be factors in deciding if they make the new Astra here and as a result keep the plant open.

Looking at the data from market watch it seems unlikely due to the higher costs of stopping production in mid flight that they will close any plants before 2020 and the UK is the most efficient car maker in Europe, personal view is that it will depend on UK Gov putting in investment like they did with Nissan to keep the plant open here, in short more expense for the taxpayer and that bill is already looking unsustainable.

Keeping a slice of the business outside the EU is a very clever move. If the UK is a success, PSA can exploit both the EU and UK network of opportunity.

Making a new Vauxhall Ashtray is small fry for this strategic advantage.

[sasguru]

... personal view is that it will depend on UK Gov putting in investment like they did with Nissan to keep the plant open here, in short more expense for the taxpayer and that bill is already looking unsustainable.

These car businesses know they thay have HMG over a barrel.
In the end if they can make money here in the UK (i.e. if any HMG subsidies make up for possible tariffs) they'll stay, otherwise they'll simply gradually move production elsewhere.
The complexity of supply chains will be a big issue in their decision, previously as part of the single market it was a non-issue.

[PurpleGorilla]

There was a chap on from Brussels on R4 yesterday - talking about the competition rules; he basically said there is ways round it;

Free land, free buildings, free training.

[Eirikur]

And MINI Brexit

Handelsblatt: BMW may build electric Mini in Germany over Brexit - Business Insider

[PurpleGorilla]

Handelsblatt: BMW may build electric Mini in Germany over Brexit - Business Insider

One of my biggest smiles on the road came when two mini's came flying past me doing at least 80 on the road near Salisbury.

The first, a modern Mini Cooper S

The second car, a classic [tuned] Mini Cooper S was right up its exhaust pipes.

Proudly on display across classic rear window was "100% BMW free".

[darmstadt]

Proudly on display across classic rear window was "100% BMW free".

Lucky that BMW came along then otherwise the car in front would be invisible

[sasguru]

The second car, a classic [tuned] Mini Cooper S was right up its exhaust pipes.

Proudly on display across classic rear window was "100% BMW free".

And the next day it rusted to bits.
My 2nd car ever was a classic Mini Cooper. What a piece of rust bucket tulipe it was.
And if you had an accident in one you'd be a mere smear on the road.
For all that, fun to drive though.

[BlasterBates]

Absolutely the old Mini was a pile of Engineering sh*te.

[PurpleGorilla]

Absolutely the old Mini was a pile of Engineering sh*te.

Wash your mouth out!

[vetran]

Absolutely the old Mini was a pile of Engineering sh*te.

compared to the landscape it was in then it was a great design. It competed with the shovette & Zodiac.

The test of time: Classic Mini vs modern MINI | Auto Express