Car giant Nissan is trialling a return to production at its Sunderland plant.
The automotive giant suspended operations at Sunderland in March and the vast majority of its staff are currently furloughed, but it will this week start a small scale trial that will see 50 workers return to work in its powertrains division.
The trial will involve fewer than than 1% of the plant’s workers, but if successful, more staff could be brought back.
No date has as yet been set for any return to vehicle production, however.
The company said: “Like the rest of the automotive industry, Nissan is looking forward to resuming business as soon as circumstances across Europe allow. The industry is currently working with very limited visibility on future market conditions, however some activities are now being planned.
“Nissan has spent recent weeks carrying out extensive risk assessments and benchmarking with other manufacturers around the world, to put in place a comprehensive set of safety measures to protect the health and wellbeing of employees.
“In Sunderland, the new safety protocols will be implemented in a pilot activity involving the Powertrain team which will begin this week, in accordance with public health advice and supported by employee representatives. This will initially involve around 50 people, less than 1% of the plant’s total workforce.
“Regular reviews will take place throughout each phase of this pilot, taking into account the feedback from the teams involved. This will inform the return to work protocols for the rest of the factory in the coming weeks. No date has been announced yet for the resumption of vehicle production.”
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Steve Bush, national officer at Unite, said: “At all times Unite’s priority must be to ensure the health and safety of our members, their families and communities as well as their financial and future job security.
“At this time Government advice is that manufacturing should, where it’s safe to do so, continue to operate. Given this, Unite supports Nissan’s actions where the safety of our members has been fully re-evaluated and all necessary precautions have been put in place.”
The firm, which has a 6,000-strong workforce at Sunderland and supports a tens of thousands more in its supply chain, joined many other car makers in shutting down production, with the likes of Vauxhall, Peugeot, Renault and Jaguar Land Rover all closing plants.
Nissan furloughed most of its staff at the start of April, topping up pay for some workers who would be above the threshhold of the Government scheme.
Nissan has also closed plants on the Continent, but is planning similar return-to-work trials at its plants in Spain.
Last week the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association said car manufacturing sites needed to be reopened as soon as possible, adding that manufacturers and suppliers would need to “rapidly and simultaneously” reopen all of their factories once the “immediate crisis” of the coronavirus pandemic has gone.
The organisation also called on Governments to implement measures that would help stimulate the car-buying market and boost the demand for new models.
Ideas highlighted include scrappage schemes and electric car grants, which would help people see buying a new car as a more affordable option.