Great Wall Motor withdraws interest in Nissan plant

Chinese carmaker Great Wall Motor has withdrawn its interest in taking over Nissan’s main plant in Barcelona which is scheduled to shut by year-end, Nissan unions said on Monday.

Great Wall, Spain’s Industry Ministry and Catalonia’s regional government business department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Coming just weeks before Nissan’s three Barcelona plants are scheduled to close, the decision is a blow to authorities and leaves the fate of around 1,600 direct jobs up in the air, as GWM was the main contender to take over the largest factory.