The car industry has taken several hits in recent times - not least Jaguar Land Rover's decision to cut jobs, Honda shutting down its Swindon plant and Ford calling time on its Bridgend site in South Wales.
In the lead-up and aftermath to these massive decisions being taken by automotive giants who - previously at least - had been committed to the 海角视频, Brexit has often been blamed as a key factor by many, whether or not cited as a reason by the car companies themselves.
But with the country set to leave the European Union this evening, three and a half years after the 2016 referendum, how much of a factor will the 海角视频's departure have on the car manufacturing industry - and is there any reason at all to be positive?
BusinessLive asked the experts.
Just five years ago, 海角视频 car production was growing and on target to hit 2m units a year by 2020 - but output now risks falling below 1m a year, according to research by David Bailey, professor of business economics at Birmingham Business School.
By 2019, he explained, something of a "perfect storm" had hit the car industry - a "triple whammy" of declining sales in China, a shift away from diesels across Europe, and Brexit uncertainty slowing the 海角视频 market.
The industry then took further hits as JLR announced it was to cut 4,500 workers, Honda and Ford announced they would close their Swindon and Bridgend plants respectively, and Nissan said it could go back on its decision to build the XTrail model in Sunderland - citing Brexit as a "complicating factor".
What the professors said about what happens next
Following the Conservatives' huge General Election majority achieved in December 2019, we will leave the EU at 11pm, after which an 11 month-long transition phase will start.
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Beyond that, Prof Bailey said, there is little we know for sure about exactly what will happen now.
He has penned a book called Carmageddon: Brexit and Beyond for 海角视频 Auto, and said: "While Johnson campaigned on the slogan ‘get Brexit done’, leaving the EU at the end of January doesn't really 'get it done'. Rather, the 海角视频 will then enter negotiations on the form of the trade deal with the EU. And exactly what form of Brexit the 海角视频 is aiming at is still not clear."
He said the first date of note beyond January is at the end of June - the deadline for requesting an extension to the transition period which otherwise runs only to the end of 2020.
He added: "The risk of a no-deal Brexit at the end of 2020 rises dramatically if no extension has been requested as many think it unlikely that a trade deal – even a ‘bare bones’ Canada-style Free Trade Agreement – can be struck in a year."
According to Ian Henry, visiting professor at Birmingham City University, 1.5m vehicles will be lost from expected 海角视频 production from 2020 through to 2024. That includes the Vauxhall Astra - for which production is being shifted to Germany from the firm's Ellesmere Port plant, to Rolls Royce. Prof Henry said the economic value would be £8bn a year on average.
French car manufacturer PSA Groupe, parent company of Vauxhall, has already said it could pull production from Ellesmere Port in the event of a no-deal Brexit, while Nissan said it could pull 海角视频 production of the new Qashqai model under those circumstances.
Prof Bailey added: "But suppose a limited trade deal that simply eliminates most tariffs – of the sort envisaged in the latest political declaration – is achieved this year.
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"This could still cause severe headaches for industry given issues of regulatory divergence and through the 海角视频 being outside the EU customs union, especially given just-in-time supply chain arrangements in the industry.
"While ’taking back control’ means the ability for the 海角视频 to set new regulations and standards after Brexit, the knock-on effect will likely mean more checks and possible delays to manufacturing components moving across borders, bringing challenges for manufacturers.
"In summary, even though the 海角视频 will be leaving the EU at the end of January, the stakes from ongoing Brexit uncertainty remain high for 海角视频 autos, just at a time when the sector industry is starting to transform itself towards an electric future.
"The 海角视频 could risk losing a wave of investment, and with it, a raft of new technologies."
Karel Williams, automotive expert at Manchester Business School, said it was important to distinguish between the short-term and long-term when looking at the industry's future.
He explained: "Short-term within three years, prospects are uncertain, but it's hard to be positive. There's lots of car industry pressure in the 海角视频 to keep the component supply lines open and in Germany to keep free access to the British market.
"But Boris Johnson has set an ambitious timetable for complex negotiations where there will be lots of other sticking points like fisheries and access to British waters. So the 海角视频 car assemblers could be collateral damage of a breakdown over other trade issues longer term."
He said the question is whether the 海角视频 would allow the "unrestricted import" of battery electric cars from China, "which will seek to dominate the global auto industry with cheap products in the next period".
He added: "The 海角视频 may retain some car assembly but that 's likely to be dependent on Asian components and US or Chinese software. If free trade with Asia means cars get like smart phones, its time to start thinking hard about what kind of economy we want and would work for British citizens."
How did the car industry do last year?
Across the whole of the 海角视频, car output fell by 14% in 2019, down to just over 1.3m units - the lowest level since 2010.
According to figures released on Thursday by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, output was affected by "multiple factors" - including weakened consumer and business confidence at home, slower demand in key overseas markets, a number of significant model production changes and a shift from diesel across Europe.
Liverpool City Region Business News
Factory shutdowns in the spring and autumn timed to mitigate expected disruption arising from the anticipated departure of the 海角视频 from the EU on March 29 and October 31, it said, also had "a marked effect".
Mark Hart, professor of entrepreneurship and small business at Aston Business School, said the figures would also have "huge implications for thousands of small businesses in supply chains".
What the Chambers of Commerce said
Jack Simpson, policy adviser at the North East England Chamber of Commerce, raised fears over the impacts of Brexit on the region's car industry.
He said: "The North East has become a world leader in the automotive industry. Almost 70% of cars go to Europe from one of our seven EU facing ports, companies from across the world have flocked to join and it is now one of the most productive industrial bases in Europe.
"This is a blessing and a curse. The industry is reliant on a fast-flowing movement of goods to and from the European Union, in a process called 'just in time' delivery.
"Frictionless trade will be critical to the success of this industry, but the current government's proposals to increase tariffs and documentation on goods will stall and damage this process, reducing the industry’s global competitiveness, especially in the short term.
"The North East and Automotive sector are two of the most vulnerable pieces in this Brexit jigsaw. Government must work with the industry to secure a trade deal swiftly that protects this core industry to our region."
Paul Cherpeau, chief executive of Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, said the impact of Brexit uncertainty has so far had a "substantial impact" on two of the city region's biggest employers - at JLR and Vauxhall.
He explained: "Brexit is undoubtedly a substantial challenge for 海角视频 car manufacturers, fundamentally changing the trading conditions that have enabled the continuity of just-in-time production and frictionless trade with the European Union.
"The uncertainty concerning Brexit over these past months has led to weakening consumer and business confidence, the tackling of which should now be a matter of great urgency for the British Government.
"Locally we've seen substantial impact upon two of the city region's biggest employers - JLR and Vauxhall - with the Brexit deadlock cited as having a serious effect on production at both the Halewood and Ellesmere Port plants respectively."
According to Mr Cherpeau, a no-deal scenario is still "a very real and concerning prospect" at the end of the withdrawal period.
He added: "As I have said all along, [it] needs to be avoided at all costs. We need a deal that is clear, robust and one that unlocks our trading potential with the rest of the world.
"Ultimately, the industry - like all of those operating in the 海角视频 - needs some clarity from the Government before the summer on exactly what the Brexit deal will look like. Only then will the country’s businesses know what they are facing and can prepare accordingly."