Ford Europe Boss Has Grave Fears For A No-Deal Brexit

The boss of Ford Europe has serious concerns for the British car industry if a Brexit deal cannot be reached with the EU before March 29 2019.

Speaking with BBC News, Ford Europe boss Steven Armstrong said that if no-deal is secured, the automaker would be forced to “think about what our future investment strategy for the UK” would look like.

Ford is particularly concerned about what the future holds for the vehicles it currently produces in Canada.

A potential deal between the UK and Canada could allow for tariff-free trade, but Armstrong warned that it would still involve border checks, therefore upsetting the “just-in-time delivery model used by the company in Europe.”

Armstrong also doesn’t want Brexit to result in the UK defaulting to World Trade Organization rules and tariffs.

“That would put a significant amount of cost in our business. It would certainly make us think long and hard about our future investment strategy,” he said.

Many car industry leaders across Europe have expressed similar concerns about a no-deal Brexit.

Like Ford, European automakers rely on just-in-time delivery where trucks carry parts across the continent exactly when they are needed. Delays for border and customs checks would upset this model.

According to Armstrong, Ford Europe is also keeping a close eye on its Bridgend plant in the UK and what the future holds.

“If we have a deal that allows us to be competitive in the UK then we will continue with the investment strategy. But it’s too early to be specific about Bridgend at this point,” he said.