Vauxhall’s new parent company, Stellantis, will spend £100 million to convert former Astra production line over to electric vans
The future of Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant in Cheshire has been secured as a production facility for Stellantis group brand electric vans, including Vauxhall, Peugeot and Citroen commercial vehicles.
The Vauxhall facility will be converted into a purpose-built factory for the Stellantis Group’s range of pure-electric light commercial vehicles and people carriers as production of the outgoing-generation Astra family hatchback ceases.
That means Ellesmere Port will produce the Vauxhall Combo-e, Peugeot e-Partner and Citroen e-Berlingo, along with their MPV equivalents. Stellantis has also confirmed that the factory will supply both the UK and European markets.
New 2021 Vauxhall Astra to offer plug-in hybrid power
New 2021 Vauxhall Astra to offer plug-in hybrid powerStellantis, with investment from the UK government, has allocated £100 million for the re-tooling – and the company aims for the first EV to roll off the production line next year.
As part of the restructure, Stellantis has also set an ambition for Ellesmere Port to become completely carbon neutral by the mid-2020s. It will also be self-sufficient for electricity, with work set to start on wind and solar farms to supply the factory.
Vauxhall points out that the restructure will continue the firm’s history of producing cars in the UK. The brand has had a manufacturing presence in Britain since 1903.
Ellesmere Port will celebrate its 60th anniversary next year. The facility opened in 1962 and has produced models like the Vauxhall Viva and Chevette, through to every generation of the Vauxhall and Opel Astra. Since 1964, the plant has built more than 5.2 million vehicles.
Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, said: “Performance is always the trigger for sustainability and this £100 million investment demonstrates our commitment to the UK and to Ellesmere Port. I particularly want to thank our highly skilled, dedicated workforce for their patience and contribution; we never let them down.
“Equally, I want to thank our partners the Unite Union for their open mindset and strong cooperation and, of course, the UK Government for their continued support. Producing battery electric vehicles here will support clean, safe and affordable mobility for the citizens. Since 1903 Vauxhall has manufactured vehicles in Britain and we will continue to do so.”
The Government’s Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Kwasi Kwarteng, echoed Tavaras’s comments, saying: “Ellesmere Port’s proud tradition in auto manufacturing will continue for many years to come thanks to today’s investment. Stellantis’s decision to double down on their commitment to this site is a clear vote of confidence in the UK as one of the best locations globally for competitive, high-quality automotive production.
“Today’s decision will not only power Ellesmere Port into a clean future, but will secure thousands of jobs across the region in the supply chain. In this global race to secure electric vehicle production, we are proud to support Britain’s auto sector in this crucial transition as we work to build back better.”
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