#manufacturingsector

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 | Czech energy group hints at combined bid for British Steel and Speciality Steel UK by Jasper Jolly AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information. Sev.en Global Investments, the Czech billionaire Pavel Tykač’s firm, is urging the UK government to appoint a single buyer for British Steel and Speciality Steel UK (SSUK) in order to create the country’s largest steelmaker. The company, which bought the electric‑arc steelworks in Cardiff from Spain’s Celsa last year, says it will invest £100 million in the Cardiff plant and has “hundreds of millions” more available under its 7 Steel brand, including a potential hydrogen‑fuelled furnace and downstream processing that could avoid job cuts. Sev.en proposes that a buyer with existing steel expertise and a strong balance sheet would need less taxpayer support than the current fragmented situation, and it positions itself as a solid partner for the government’s long‑term plan. The bid comes as the government, which took control of British Steel after its Chinese owners threatened closure, seeks to resolve SSUK’s insolvency and navigate exclusive talks with a Norwegian startup. If successful, Sev.en could overtake Tata Steel as the UK’s biggest steel producer, while the recent 50 % protective tariffs on imported steel bolster its investment case. Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/01/seven-energy-group-hints-bid-british-steel-speciality-steel-uk #PavelTyka #SevenGlobal #BritishSteel #manufacturingsector #steelindustry #AlanSvoboda