Sea border car blockage 'shows catastrophic error of Windsor framework': Post-Brexit rules mean new models aren't coming to Northern Ireland, say major auto dealers

Sea border rules blocking new car models from coming to Northern Ireland shows the ‘catastrophic error’ of accepting the Windsor Framework, the TUV’s leader has said.

Jim Allister MP’s comments came after leading auto dealers in the province said new models from major manufacturers aren’t travelling across the sea from Great Britain due to post-Brexit rules – and those do get through will be more expensive.

placeholder image — Motor dealers are being hit by new sea border rules that mean cars meant for the UK market aren't eligible to be sold in Northern Ireland.

Major figures in the vehicle trade have highlighted severe problems facing them from rules that come into force in two months.

From January, all new cars registered in Northern Ireland must have what’s labelled “EU-type approval”, which is a different process from getting approval to be sold in Great Britain.

It’s possible to get dual EU and GB approval; according to auto dealers, however, manufacturers producing cars for the UK market frequently only get GB approval.

That includes, they told a Stormont committee, big names like Vauxhall, Renault, Peugeot and Citroen. The upshot is from January, new UK models may not be available for sale in Northern Ireland as they don’t have approval for the EU.

Dealers argued they need to be in the UK’s internal market, instead of stuck in what they dubbed a “hybrid market that doesn’t exist”.

For Mr Allister, the situation highlights how much the sea border “disenfranchises the people of Northern Ireland and undermines our economy”.

“The old UK internal market no longer exists,” he said. “It has been replaced by an all-Ireland internal market for new cars and a GB internal market for new cars.

“The consequence is significantly less choice for customers and significantly greater expense. It places in sharp focus the catastrophic error in accepting the Irish Sea border.”

For DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley, the situation is a “looming cliff edge” for the province’s car sales industry, which was already down in recent years.

“This is a real-world example of how Northern Ireland is suffering because of a determination to cling to the European Union,” he said.

“[Stormont’s] Economy Committee unanimously recognised the problem; it’s time the government showed some determination to protect this part of the United Kingdom, and thousands of jobs that are hanging in the balance.”