EU questions UK assurances

The European Commission has asked the British government for details of the assurances it gave Nissan over its Brexit concerns, reports Automotive News Europe. When asked if such assurances might breach rules in the EU against states giving unfair aid to companies, a Commission spokesperson said: “We have seen the press reports regarding Nissan and as a result the Commission is in contact with the UK authorities.” “The UK authorities have not notified any support to Nissan for assessment under our state aid rules and we've therefore not taken any formal view of this matter.” Depending on the terms of its exit from the EU, the UK may not be bound by EU state aid rules, but as long as it remains a member, it would not be able to favor particular companies. The British government said last month that it had given Nissan assurances that the marque’s continued investment in its Sunderland plant in England would remain competitive after Brexit, but said that Nissan had not been given any explicit promise of compensation for EU tariffs.