Global economic slowdown affects the Japanese car giant
Andy Allen
Publication date:
9 January 2009
Car manufacturer Nissan has announced that it is to cut 1,200 workers from its Sunderland workforce following what it describes as “a dramatic decline in customer demand”.
The job losses will represent nearly a quarter of the Sunderland factory’s entire workforce. 400 of the 1,200 planned redundancies will be temporary workers.
Nissan senior vice president for manufacturing, Europe, Trevor Mann, said: “Sunderland plant is currently operating in extraordinary circumstances not of our making. It is essential we take the right action now to ensure we are in a strong and viable position once business conditions return to normal.
“Unavoidably, this means we have had to make some very tough decisions in recent weeks.”
A newly-formed response group featuring public and private sector bodies, including Nissan, Jobcentre Plus and Business and Enterprise North East, has pledged to help affected workers. The group will be led by regional development agency One North East.
One North East chief executive Alan Clarke said: “This announcement is a blow for the workers and their families and the response group will be doing everything it can to help staff find new employment as quickly as possible.
"The dedication and hard work of Nissan's highly skilled north-east workforce has cemented its reputation as one of the world's most productive car plants.”
Business secretary Lord Mandelson responded to the announcement by saying: "We will also be working with Nissan to secure new investment for Sunderland. We also need to look to the future and our commitment to the development of low carbon vehicles as an integral part of the UK automotive industry.”