Car industry woes ‘nothing to do with Brexit’, says business secretary

‘This isn’t to do with Brexit’, says Kemi Badenoch – despite plea by carmarkers to change Brexit deal

Business secretary Kemi Badenoch has claimed the automotive sector’s fears it cannot make electric vehicles in the UK “isn’t to do with Brexit”.

Vauxhall’s parent company Stellantis has said it will be unable to keep manufacturing in Britain without changes to Boris Johnson’s trade deal with the EU as a tariff deadline approaches.

Rishi Sunak has ordered talks with Brussels after warnings of an “existential threat” to the industry posed by the looming 2024 deadline for new rules of origin which will require carmakers to build more batteries in the UK.