#automotiveindustry

The Guardian | Nissan ponders building cars for Chinese rivals at Sunderland plant by Jasper Jolly AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information. Nissan’s chief executive Ivan Espinosa confirmed that the company is “looking at options” for its Sunderland plant and its 6,000 workers, amid steep annual losses and a recent closure of one production line due to weak demand. While no partner has been announced, Nissan has held talks with China’s Chery to potentially produce its vehicles at the UK site, seeking to boost volume and make better use of the plant’s capacity. This follows a broader trend of European carmakers, including Ford and Stellantis, exploring collaborations with Chinese firms to share under‑used factories as Chinese brands gain market share in Europe. Nissan’s European operations remain a small portion of its global business, and the Sunderland plant—its largest in the UK—has been affected by broader cost‑cutting measures, job cuts and a ¥533 billion (£2.5 billion) net loss for the year ended March. Espinosa emphasized the need for external collaborations to improve profitability and adapt to an uncertain operating environment. Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/13/nissan-ponders-building-cars-for-chinese-rivals-at-sunderland-plant-chery #Nissan #IvanEspinosa #automotiveindustry #manufacturingsector

The Guardian | ‘Temu Range Rover’: what the bestselling Jaecoo 7 says about China’s electric car ascendancy by Jasper Jolly and Claudia Efemini AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information. In March, China’s Chery saw its Jaecoo 7 crossover SUV become the UK’s best‑selling model, selling 10,064 units and outpacing familiar rivals such as Ford, Nissan, Kia and Tesla. The surge is driven by Chery’s cost advantage – lower material and labour costs in China, extensive state subsidies, and economies of scale that let it offer a plug‑in hybrid for about £35,000 with high‑spec features like heated seats, a panoramic roof and a heads‑up display. By expanding to 126 UK dealers, providing zero‑percent finance with no deposit, and leveraging a network of PHEVs that avoid EU tariffs on pure‑electric cars, Chery is aggressively pushing into Europe and positioning the Jaecoo 7 as a low‑price, tech‑rich alternative, even as some reviewers note mixed driving dynamics. This marks a significant shift in the European automotive market toward competitively priced Chinese models. Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/01/jaecoo-7-china-electric-car-chery-price-temu-range-rover #Jaecoo7 #EU #automotiveindustry #electric