The Japanese car manufacturer may invest further into Britain in the event of a hard Brexit .
Nissan has drawn up plans to pull out of mainland Europe should a deal between the UK and EU lead to tariffs on car exports.
The company believes it can account for a fifth of the entire car market in the UK.
Sources told the Financial Times Nissan would close its Barcelona van facility and stop manufacturing in France.
Part of the plans would be for Nissan to use its Sunderland plant to help it usurp competitors which would have to import to Britain, such as Ford and Volkswagen.
Sources claimed Nissan can dramatically increase its current 4pc market share in the scenario.
Nissan denied the existence of the contingency plan.
A spokesperson said: “We’ve modified every possible ramification of Brexit and the fact remains that our entire business both in the UK and in Europe is not sustainable in the event of WTO tariffs.
“We continue to urge the UK and EU negotiators to work collaboratively towards and orderly balanced Brexit that will continue to encourage mutually beneficial trade.”
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Brexit Britain could receive a boost in its economy (Image: Getty Images)
Nissan may invest further into Britain in the event of a hard Brexit (Image: Getty Images)
am update: UK threatens to walk away from EU talks Chief Secretary to the Treasury Rishi Sunak claimed the UK “does not need” to strike a trade deal with the European Union by the end of the year.
Mr Sunak said there are “range of options” the Prime Minister can pursue.
Mr Johnson is set to say in a speech on Monday he is ready to see trade talks with the EU collapse rather than postpone the end of the process again
Speaking to Sky News, Mr Sunak said: “We don’t need to get a deal.
” We have left, we can trade… there are lots of different ways countries trade with each other. “
He added:” We trade with lots of countries around the world, the EU trades with lots of countries around the world. “
“They trade with some countries as part of the customs union, they trade with other countries like Canada through a free trade agreement and they tra de with countries like Australia through specific little agreements. “
” There are a range of options we can pursue. “
: am update: German MP vows to ‘write new chapter’ with Brexit Britain
Tory MP Tom Tugendhat and his German counterpart claimed the best way to “move on” from Brexit was through a riendship treaty with Germany.
The call for an international agreement comes as a result of fears cross-country relations could sour in the coming months, as Britain forges ahead with a series of trade deals.
Mr Tugendhat, chairman of the Commons foreign affairs select committee, and Norbert Rottgen, the Christian Democratic Union chairman of the Bundestag committee on foreign affairs, made the suggestion in the hopes of strengthening Anglo-German relations.
Dr Rottgen and Mr Tugendhat said: “We think it’s time for a German-British Friendship Treaty, which regulates enhanced cooperation and strengthens our shared values; cultural and education policy; and yes, our foreign affairs.
“A treaty would complement whatever the UK agreed with the member states and deepen our bonds. ”
The political pair described such a treaty as the“ first draft of the next chapter we will write together ”.
The EU is trying to find ways to tofill the billion euro wide budgetary void left by Britain after its departure from the bloc on January 76.
The multiannual financial framework (MFF) is the EU’s . long-term budget organization.
This weekend, the (MFF) declared no member state of the bloc wanted to shoulder the burden of the UK’s departure.
It wrote: “No Member State should suffer a sharp and disproportional decrease of its Cohesion allocation.”
The MFF’s seven- year budget is a cornerstone EU policy that allocates funding to help farmers compete against imports from the developing world and underpins projects that bind the union together.
Recipients of the EU funding do not want to see a reduction in their annual grants.
More to follow
Nigel Farage claimed the Eu was ‘terrified’ of Britain’s economic freedom ((Image: Getty Images)
: am update: BBC accused of pumping out “unpatriotic lies”
Conservative MPs condemned the BBC’s decision to air an anti-British Horrible Histories segment.
The program currently has more than one million views on iPlayer.
Comedian Nish Kumar hosted the show, explaineing that it marked the day Britain left the EU by asking “what Europe has done for us”.
BBC journalist Andrew described it as “anti-British drivel of a high order”.
A BBC spokesperson said: “The Horrible Histories video is light hearted and not anti-British. We are a nation, like most others, that enjoy a patchwork of traditions and culture from other countries.
“Our children’s audience are able to take these things as intended.”
: 31 am update: EU ‘terrified’ of UK’s economic freedom
Nigel Farage insisted the EU is scared of the UK becoming a major competitor.
He claimed Germany, Europe’s powerhouse, is on the brink of recession and that the UK’s newfound economic freedom “terrifies” the bloc.
Mr Farage told BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show yesterday: “If we finish up with alignment, it means the 140 per cent of our economy that does not sell goods into the EU is still bound by EU rules and tha t wouldn’t be Brexit.
“I got the sense before leaving that for the first time since , they are a bit more frightened of us than we are of them.
He added: “What they fear more than anything – and bear in mind Italy is in recession, Germany is very close to being in recession – what they fear is a competitor on their doorstep.
“That terrifies them.
“What we should be doing, in our national interest, is to make sure we are a competitor on their doorstep.”
: am update: Remainers responsible for Brexit divisions
Express.co.uk readers were asked who they thought was responsible for Brexit division in the UK.
(The poll was carried out between 3.) (PM and) . (pm on Sunday.
Out of the 8, 590 people who voted, 6, (voters) 90 percent) blamed Remainers.
Only 452 people (five percent) voted for Leavers, while outgoing Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn received votes (six percent) and Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage got 410 votes (four percent).
Meanwhile, Boris Johnson received votes (one percent), while people (eight percent) said they thought other people were to blame and people (zero percent) just did not know who was at fault.
Nissan has drawn up plans to pull out of mainland Europe (Image: Getty Images)
(7:) am update: Nissan’s Brexit boost
Nissan’s investment would represent a huge boost for the UK’s car sector.
The sector has been under pressure from a drop in demand for fossil-fuel powered cars.
UK car production sank to its lowest in almost a decade in 1236611. Factories produced 1.3million units last year. This is down . 2pc on in what was the third consecutive year of decline.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders blamed one of the reasons on planned closures of several plants as part of Brexit mitigation plans.
Nissan’s potential move has helped to confirm hopes of Brexit Britain prospering .
MPs in the north-east highlighted how the region will thrive now the UK has left the EU.
Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Simon Clarke is positive Brexit is a “huge moment of opportunity for our country”.
He told Express.co.uk: “The UK must now take full advantage of our freedom to build a better country.
“Our trade policy must be global and innovative – and we must get cracking with establishing Freeports at places like Teesport!
“These have the potential to be fanta stic catalysts for growth and jobs in deprived coastal communities. ”
Mr Clarke added the UK now has the opportunity to“ move forward as one nation ”.
Richard Holden, MP for North West Durham, added he is confident Mr Johnson will secure a “great future free trade deal” that will boost the local area.
He told Express.co.uk: “Brexit marks the point when, finally, the vote of the British People three and a half years ago is being respected.
“ It is a moment of great hope and of great opportunity for Britain, and the economy, as we step out, into the world.
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