{"text":[[{"start":7.7,"text":"Nissan plans to cut about 10 per cent of its European workforce and combine the two production lines at its Sunderland plant in the UK, as part of a restructuring aimed at easing the carmaker’s financial difficulties. "}],[{"start":20,"text":"The Japanese company started talking to its workers on Tuesday about plans to cut 900 office workers in Europe, including in France, Spain and the UK. The group currently employs about 9,300 people in the region."}],[{"start":35.05,"text":"Nissan will consolidate the Sunderland production lines into one, with the FT reporting that it has held talks with China’s Chery and other potential partners about them using the plant’s spare capacity to build cars. "}],[{"start":47.65,"text":"The carmaker declined to comment on the discussions on Tuesday but said it was exploring “opportunities with third parties to maximise plant utilisation” — which is hovering at about 50 per cent. "}],[{"start":60.15,"text":"In a statement to the FT, the company said the measures were “essential to protect Nissan’s future in Europe, safeguard jobs in the long term and ensure we can profitably compete in Europe”."}],[{"start":71.35,"text":"The UK plant’s future had been called into question by a massive restructuring programme at Nissan involving some factory shutdowns and 20,000 job cuts worldwide."}],[{"start":81.8,"text":"Nissan is one of the largest automotive employers in the UK with about 6,000 workers in Sunderland, where it produces the company’s new Leaf electric vehicle. The new electric Juke, which will also be produced in Sunderland, is also expected to go on sale in 2027."}],[{"start":98.15,"text":"The company did not provide details on how many office jobs would be affected in the UK, but there will be no cuts at Sunderland. Its parts warehouse in Barcelona will also be downsized, while it will restructure its distribution operations in Nordic markets."}],[{"start":114.10000000000001,"text":"In recent years, the Japanese group has come under heavy pressure from the rapid influx of Chinese brands in the UK and other European markets. "}],[{"start":122.85000000000001,"text":"Nissan’s new car sales in the UK dropped 13 per cent in the first four months of the year compared with 2025, with its market share falling from 4.7 per cent to 3.7 per cent, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. "}],[{"start":138.45000000000002,"text":"In contrast, Chery, which owns the Omoda and Jaecoo brands as well as its eponymous marque, has a 6 per cent share in the UK while BYD’s share increased to 3.5 per cent. "}],[{"start":149.8,"text":"In the EU, Nissan’s sales have also dropped 8.3 per cent during the first quarter, according to European car industry body Acea. "}],[{"start":164.9,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1778036831_2321.mp3"}