Toyota Motor requires clarity on the regards to Britain’s access to European Union markets after Brexit to secure production at its Burnaston plant in central England, it stated on Wednesday.
The Japanese automaker’s remarks echo calls from companies in both Britain and abroad for the UK government to make development in talks on future relations with the EU following the nation’s prepared departure from the bloc in March 2019.
“We can not stay in this sort of fog when we have no idea what will be the output of the settlements,” Toyota Executive Vice President Didier Leroy stated at the Tokyo Motor Show.
“The quicker we can get clarity about that, the better it will be (for) the way we can get ready for the future.”
Toyota, which has more than 3,000 workers in Britain, develops the Auris hatchback and the family Avensis vehicle at Burnaston.
Sources informed Reuters this month the company would construct the next Auris model at the plant assuming Britain secured a transitional deal with the EU.
Toyota stated in March it would invest 240 million pounds ($317 million) in the plant, however maintaining tariff-free access to the EU’s single market was essential.
Leroy restated on Wednesday this was “absolutely” crucial.
He stated Brexit talks, currently deadlocked over the divorce bill, had to move onto future trading relations.
