Nissan Motor Co announced it will begin discussions this week to offer a voluntary layoff scheme to some of its workers at its Sunderland, Britain, plant as part of a global restructuring.
The move is in line with the Japanese automaker's target of reducing its global workforce by up to 15% to improve operational efficiency.
Although Nissan did not specify the specific number of employees involved, Kyodo News reported that 250 employees are expected to be affected.
Although the company previously announced plans to close seven plants globally, the Sunderland plant is not included in the list and continues to be considered important in Nissan's plans for Europe.
On the contrary, the facility continues to be considered a strategic asset in Nissan's European operations.
The Sunderland plant will also play an important role in the company's technological transformation when it becomes the main site for the production of a new version of the Leaf electric vehicle (EV) model.
The restructuring is seen as Nissan's proactive action in the face of pressure from the increasingly challenging global automotive industry.
