November 28, 2024 – Stellantis, the parent company of the British automotive brand Vauxhall, announced yesterday its decision to shut down its car manufacturing plant in Luton, UK, where Vauxhall has been producing vehicles since 1905, and consolidate its operations in the country.
Currently employing around 1,100 workers, the Luton plant manufactures internal combustion engine light commercial vehicles (LCVs) and was scheduled to start production of the electric version of the Vivaro commercial van in 2025.
Stellantis acquired the Luton plant in 2021 when it purchased General Motors’ European assets and the Opel/Vauxhall brands. The company stated that it will now reinforce its manufacturing presence in the UK with a new £50 million investment “to strengthen Ellesmere Port’s mission as a sustainable electric vehicle volume manufacturing plant in the UK.”
The automaker also revealed that it has initiated discussions with employees and union partners regarding its plans to:
Supplement the existing small electric LCVs at Ellesmere Port with battery-electric medium-sized LCVs (K0) transferred from the Luton plant.
Provide a comprehensive support program for the affected employees at Luton, including relocating hundreds of jobs to the Ellesmere Port manufacturing site and offering dedicated job support in the “very active Luton area, where new third-party activities can be considered.”
A UK government spokesperson commented, “While it is encouraging to see Stellantis investing in the future of its Ellesmere Port plant, we understand that this will be a worrying time for the families of the Luton employees who may be affected.”
