A no-deal Brexit which led to 10 per cent tariffs on exports would make Nissan’s European business model unsustainable, its chairman has warned.

Gianluca de Ficchy said the business was prepared for Brexit scenarios but could not plan long term.

Speaking at the UK’s biggest car plant in Sunderland, where production is due to start on the new model of the Juke, he said a decision to stop night shifts was not linked to Brexit, but was due to the need to optimise production of the three models it builds – the popular Qashqai, the Leaf electric vehicle and the new Juke.

The Wearside plant has built 10 million “high quality” vehicles in its history and the Nissan Europe chairman praised its workforce.

Two-thirds of the components for the Juke come from the EU and 70 per cent of production was aimed at the continent.

The most picturesque electric car charging points Show all 10 1 /10 The most picturesque electric car charging points The most picturesque electric car charging points Penrith, Cumbria LeeMcLean/SWNS The most picturesque electric car charging points Prince of Wales Drive, Battersea, London Paul Davey/SWNS The most picturesque electric car charging points Bovey Castle, Devon SWNS The most picturesque electric car charging points Bryn Elltyd Eco Guesthouse, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wales SWNS The most picturesque electric car charging points Blythswood Square, Glasgow Katielee Arrowsmith SWNS The most picturesque electric car charging points West Highland Way, Kingshouse, Ballachulish Katielee Arrowsmith SWNS The most picturesque electric car charging points Hastings, East Sussex SWNS The most picturesque electric car charging points Route 303 Restaurant, Devon SWNS The most picturesque electric car charging points 30 Southwark St, London Paul Davey/SWNS The most picturesque electric car charging points Wooldown Holiday Cottages. Marhamchurch, Nr Bude SWNS

He said: “It is important to have some clear discussions about the future and about the situation in which we have to operate, which we have with Brexit.

“There has been many speculations about the current uncertainty. I wish to clarify the Nissan position about that.

“We have been working together in Europe to define all the risks associated with Brexit coming in and we think we are all really well prepared.

“I think from an operational point of view we have worked in order to prepare for all the different scenarios.”

But Nissan was unable to make plans for the future due to uncertainty about where models will be built.

Mr De Ficchy said there was uncertainty over whether there would be a deal, or no deal, and what no deal would represent.

Chairman of Nissan Europe Gianluca de Ficchy at the Sunderland plant (PA)

He said: “If a no-deal scenario means the sudden application of WTO tariffs, we know in that case our business model won’t be sustainable in the future.

“Our industry works with lower margins and if we are in a situation in which tomorrow we have to apply 10 per cent export duties to 70 per cent of our production, the entire business model for Nissan Europe will be in jeopardy.

“That’s the reason why we continue to work with all scenarios.”

Mr de Ficchy said there may be some off-setting of tariffs on imported components and exported cars, but there were too many variables for the business to plan.

But he said the quality of the work done on Sunderland since it started production in 1986 meant the business still planned to manufacture there, with £100m invested in Juke production.

He said: “We know the workforce is concerned about that situation – we are also concerned.

“That’s the reason we are here, to express our concerns.”

He said he had no specific message for the prime minister but that the business required a clear understanding of the Brexit decision.

Nissan employs more than 6,000 people directly in its Sunderland plant – the biggest in the UK – and supports around 35,000 UK jobs in total.