Nissan, which operates Britain's biggest car plant, has delayed the start of pay talks for UK workers until there is "better clarity" on future business. The statement comes after the latest hold-up in Brexit talks ahead of a key summit this week as London and Brussels hope for a deal by next month. Nissan, which built nearly one in three of Britain's 1.67 million new cars last year at its Sunderland plant, warned earlier this month that a 'no-deal' Brexit would have "serious implications" for Britain's manufacturing industry. Carmakers are already triggering contingency plans for no deal with BMW bringing forward the date of its annual shutdown to 1 April, just after the Brexit date at the end of March. Jaguar Land Rover, Britain's biggest carmaker, has also sounded a warning on the risks of a cliff-edge departure from the European Union next March. Companies in the carmaking sector generally sign two-year pay deals with their staff and Nissan had been due to start negotiating with its workforce this autumn, Reuters reported. A Nissan spokesman said: "In agreement with our employee representatives, the 2019/20 pay negotiations in our UK plant and technical centre will commence in 2019 when we have better clarity on the future business outlook." Carmakers have expressed worries that if there is no Brexit deal, port and road delays could slow the import of car parts, hitting output and adding to costs. Nissan announced in 2016 that it would build its next generation Qashqai SUV in Sunderland in a major boost to the prime minister just weeks after Britain voted to leave the EU. Its delay to pay talks comes as a respected economic forecaster downgrades its UK outlook largely thanks to Brexit uncertainty while finance chiefs including Royal Bank of Scotland's boss urge minister to avoid "sleepwalking" into an unwanted Brexit outcome. Nissan, which employs around 7,000 workers in Sunderland, axed hundreds of workers earlier this year because of a fall in demand for diesel cars. It said the decision was not related to Brexit.
Nissan has delayed 2019/2020 pay negotiations for UK workers until annual amid the uncertainty surrounding Brexit. Nissan has warned that a no-deal Brexit would have "serious implications" for UK manufacturing, while Jaguar Land Rover also warned of the dangers of a no-deal departure. Meanwhile, BMW has brought forward its next year shutdown to 1 April annual, immediately after the Brexit date.