Three massive world carmakers have known as on the UK authorities to renegotiate the Brexit deal, saying guidelines on the place elements are sourced from threaten the way forward for the British automotive trade.

Ford and Jaguar Land Rover have joined Stellantis, which owns the Vauxhall, Peugeot and Citroën manufacturers, to warn the transition to electrical automobiles shall be knocked astray until the UK and EU delay stricter “guidelines of origin”, on account of kick in subsequent yr, that would add tariffs on automobile exports.

Present post-Brexit guidelines require 40% of an electrical car’s elements by worth to be sourced within the UK or EU whether it is to be bought on the opposite facet of the Channel and not using a 10% commerce tariff.

This proportion is because of rise to 45% subsequent yr, and since most electrical car batteries are nonetheless imported from Asia, and batteries make up a big a part of the price of constructing a automobile, automobiles made within the UK and the EU are prone to fall foul of the principles.

Stellantis mentioned on Wednesday that and not using a rethink, it could possibly be compelled to close a few of its UK operations, placing jobs in danger in an trade that employs 800,000 individuals in Britain.

Ford, which makes electrical vehicles in Germany and elements within the UK, mentioned on Thursday the requirement would add “pointless price to prospects desirous to go inexperienced”. A spokesperson mentioned: “Tariffs will hit each UK- and EU-based producers, so it’s vital that the UK and EU come to the desk to agree an answer.”

Jaguar Land Rover, the UK’s largest automotive employer, joined the refrain, describing the present timing as “unrealistic and counterproductive”, and calling on the UK and EU to “shortly agree a greater implementation resolution to keep away from destabilising the trade’s transition to scrub mobility”.

It was the primary time carmakers had explicitly urged a renegotiation of the Brexit deal.

Producers are placing strain on each the EU and the UK to return to the desk, demanding the edge improve be at the least delayed till 2027 to permit time for European factories to start out producing sufficient batteries to scale back reliance on Asia.

In a bid to reassure producers, the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, advised enterprise leaders on the British Chambers of Commerce annual convention on Wednesday: “Everyone seems to be making an attempt to develop provide of EV batteries, and so we have to have that offer right here within the UK. The nearer it’s situated to the factories which might be making the remainder of the automobile, the higher.

“And all I’d say is, watch this house, as a result of we’re very centered on ensuring the UK will get that EV manufacturing capability.”

Stellantis has raised doubts concerning the viability of its vegetation at Ellesmere Port and Luton, saying tariffs will make it dearer to supply vehicles within the UK than in Japan or South Korea. Its plant at Ellesmere Port, which is because of begin electrical car manufacturing later this yr, employs 1,000 staff, whereas 1,200 are employed in Luton making Vauxhall and Fiat vans. Hundreds extra individuals are employed within the UK in companies that offer elements to the vegetation.

“To strengthen the sustainability of our manufacturing vegetation within the UK, the UK should take into account its buying and selling preparations with Europe,” Stellantis mentioned, in a submission to a Home of Commons inquiry into electrical automobile manufacturing first reported by the BBC. It cited additional prices for the UK if it had been compelled to import batteries, including: “If the price of EV manufacturing within the UK turns into uncompetitive and unsustainable operations will shut.”

Bosses from the producer met the enterprise secretary, Kemi Badenoch, on Wednesday to debate the issue. The corporate additionally needs preparations for manufacturing elements in Serbia and Morocco to be reviewed.

The commerce deal is because of be renegotiated in 2025 as a part of the unique pact between the UK and the EU signed by Lord Frost in December 2020.

The impact of the principles of origin modifications varies between carmakers. One automobile trade knowledgeable mentioned Stellantis’s issues could stem from its choice to supply batteries initially from China’s CATL, the world’s largest battery maker. Stellantis’s submission famous that it deliberate to “supply batteries from mainland Europe and China”.

A authorities spokesperson mentioned Badenoch “has raised this with the EU”.