UK-made cars included in EU's "Made in Europe" benefits; Nissan welcomes move

The European Commission recently clarified that under the proposed Industrial Acceleration Act (IAA), vehicles manufactured in the UK could be considered "equivalent to EU-origin," thereby qualifying for relevant incentives, including public procurement preferences and electric vehicle subsidies. This move alleviates concerns from automakers like Nissan that UK-made electric vehicles might be excluded from support schemes. Nissan’s plant in Sunderland, England, produces approximately 500,000 vehicles annually, with 70% exported—primarily to the EU. The company welcomed the decision and urged that this treatment be extended to all EV support mechanisms, such as incentives for corporate fleet purchases and the “super credits” policy for small cars, to prevent industry disruption. Following Brexit, UK-based automakers were initially excluded from the EU single market; this adjustment is seen as recognition of the UK’s critical role in Europe’s automotive supply chain.