Overview
- About 350 jobs are at risk, with any closure expected no later than March 2027 if the plan proceeds.
- The proposal covers the NSK Bearing and AKS Precision Ball factories in Peterlee, which make automotive bearings for reported customers including Volkswagen, Renault and Nissan.
- Formal collective consultations with union and elected representatives have started, and no final decision has been made.
- Unite has condemned the move as a betrayal and says it will fight to keep the factories open during the consultation process.
- NSK frames the step as part of its mid‑term European restructuring, says it will support affected staff, and is still assessing the impact on overall business performance.