Government should 'get on' with laws to protect NI car industry as sales fall under Windsor Framework rules - DUP leader
The government should “get on” with legislation to protect the car industry from Irish Sea border rules which risk manufacturers withdrawing from the Northern Ireland market entirely, the DUP leader has said.
The Department for Transport in London has previously said it intends to legislate to require vehicles placed on the Great Britain market to carry both GB and EU type approval - so that the same models can be sold in both Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Under the Windsor Framework, cars sold in Northern Ireland must meet EU specifications. A new UK law was proposed because manufacturers were not voluntarily making their models suitable for both markets, the government said.
The body representing car dealerships – National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) – has said the market is already being distorted, in advance of a tightening of the rules in January.
It said some manufacturers are producing models for Great Britain only – limiting what can be registered in Northern Ireland.
During the week, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland launched a call for evidence on the matter.
But Gavin Robinson says the government must press ahead with laws to guarantee that new cars placed on the market in Great Britain can also be sold in Northern Ireland.
The DUP leader said the current arrangements “were foisted upon us by the Windsor Framework and are placing many local dealers and jobs at serious risk” – and questioned the need for a further period of consultation. He said there is already “clear evidence” from local dealers about the consequences of “continued prevarication”.
“In the first ten months of this year, Northern Ireland’s car market was down by 6%, while the rest of the UK had grown by 5%.
“Several major manufacturers - including Renault, Peugeot, Nissan and Jaguar Land Rover - do not pursue dual approval for some or all models, severely limiting consumer choice and putting local dealers at a competitive disadvantage within their own country”.
The East Belfast MP said manufacturers should act in the interests of consumers throughout the United Kingdom – but given that “around a third” have opted not to voluntarily dual mark their vehicles, the DUP is “sceptical that good will alone can solve this problem”.
He said the ‘wait and see’ approach taken on food labelling cannot be repeated.
“The Government should now get on with legislating to guarantee that new cars placed on the market in Great Britain have dual approval. Nothing less than a full restoration of access should be tolerated. Any legislation must also be capable of guarding against any re-emergence of this threat, irrespective of any future changes in UK or EU rules.
“Whilst the date of any legislation taking effect is unknown, 1 January 2026 is the cliff-edge for dealers in Northern Ireland, when EU type approval becomes mandatory for NI sales. The Government should urgently extend the grace period to provide certainty, particularly given that their call for evidence will remain open until February”, Mr Robinson said.