NISSAN may “adjust” its UK business on the outcome of Brexit, a senior boss has warned MPs.

Colin Lawther says the Wearside car maker will “constantly review” a previous decision to bring new models to the region if a Brexit deal harms its progress.

The company last year revealed its near 7,000-strong job Sunderland plant will make next generation Qashqai and X-Trail models after Government talks gave assurance the EU withdrawal won’t affect the factory’s competitiveness.

However, Mr Lawther yesterday issued caution, saying officials will closely monitor that decision in the light of any material changes to its ability to trade with the remaining EU.

His update follows a warning from senior boss Carlos Ghosn, who said the company will re-evaluate its UK operations once a final Brexit deal is concluded.

It also comes just days after Kevin Kitzpatrick, Nissan’s divisional vice-president for European manufacturing told The Northern Echo it was “business as usual” after the company unveiled a £37m press capable of making millions of large car panels every year at its Sunderland base.

Speaking to the House of Commons International Trade Committee, Mr Lawther, who was the 120th person to be employed at Nissan’s Wearside plant, said the company’s preferred outcome from Brexit negotiations was for Britain’s relations with the EU to “stay as they are”.

In talks with the Government, Nissan made “a strong request” for Britain to remain within the European Customs Union, said Mr Lawther, who warned a move to World Trade Organisation (WTO) tariffs would “change the business circumstances”

for the company.

Mr Lawther, European senior vice-president for manufacturing, purchasing and supply chain, added: “We would have to look at the degrees of change and adjust our business to take into account whatever this new trading platform would be.

“At the moment we have got a set of circumstances we are happy with.

“But if anything materially changes, we would review constantly.”

Nissan’s Sunderland factory has now made more than nine million vehicles since opening in 1986.

It already makes the Qashqai, as well as the Juke, luxury Infiniti models and electric Leaf hatchback.

The business is expected to unveil a refreshed Qashqai, complete with ‘auto-pilot’ driver-aid technology later this year.

No date has been revealed for the new Qashqai or XTrail.