Ford Will Ask U.K. for Equal Treatment on Brexit Aid

Ford of Europe CEO Jim Farley says he will ask the British government this week to treat all carmakers equally in countering any negative financial effects of the country’s vote to leave the European Union.

Farley points out to Automotive News Europe that Ford employs more people in England than any other carmaker except Jaguar Land Rover Ltd. He is scheduled to meet with Chancellor Philip Hammond this week to discuss Ford’s concerns about Brexit.

Carmakers worry that the U.K. will lose its tariff-free status when it quits the EU, making the country less attractive as a production base for the European market. They also are worried that the government may have extended special assurances to Nissan Motor Co. to maintain operations at the company's big assembly plant in Sunderland.

In September Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn threatened to relocate production from Sunderland to Europe unless the government guaranteed to compensation if necessary to offset higher tariffs. After meeting with Prime Minister Theresa May a month later, Ghosn announced two new vehicle programs for the complex.

The government has not revealed what assurances were made to Nissan. But Ford, like other manufacturers, wants the same benefits to apply to all carmakers.