UK Lobbies for Laxer Brexit Rules as Carmakers Seek Help (1)

The UK government is lobbying the European Union to delay Brexit-related local manufacturing requirements after the maker of Vauxhall and Peugeot cars warned the rules may lead to factory closures.

Stellantis NV, which is retooling its Ellesmere Port site to make electric vans, said it’s unable to meet local content requirements because of rising raw-material prices and a lack of UK battery supplies. Japan’s Nissan Motor Co. said assembling cars in Britain is at risk of becoming too expensive after the rules kick in next year.

“If the cost of EV manufacturing in the UK becomes uncompetitive and unsustainable, ...