Stellantis to close Vauxhall Luton factory
Stellantis has announced that it will shut down its Vauxhall Luton plant next April, citing difficulties related to the ZEV Mandate as one of the reasons.
The facility, in operation since 1905, has a workforce of 1,100 and produces electric vans.
Stellantis has announced that it will relocate its electric van production in the UK to the Ellesmere Port facility, where they manufacture electric vans for Vauxhall, Peugeot, and Citroen.
The company intends to move several hundred positions from Luton to its facility in Cheshire, which will also benefit from a £50 million investment to enhance its production capabilities.
Stellantis announced that while it is enhancing Ellesmere Port as its center for sustainable light-commercial vehicles in the UK by moving operations from Luton, it is also dedicated to being considerate of its Luton employees. If the proposal is accepted, the company will provide relocation assistance to help those who want to move to the Ellesmere Port location, along with a beneficial package. This shift is expected to create hundreds of permanent job opportunities.
A robust job support program will be put in place, offering retraining options for all employees in the bustling Luton region, located just a mile from the international airport. Additionally, Stellantis plans to collaborate with local authorities and businesses to explore new job opportunities in Luton for employees who may be affected by this potential plan.
The government has announced that it will keep collaborating with Stellantis to secure its future in the UK and assist the workers impacted in Luton.
"It’s great to witness Stellantis making investments in the future of the Ellesmere Port facility. However, we understand that this can be a worrying period for the families of workers at Luton who might be impacted. We have a strong relationship with Stellantis and will keep collaborating with them, along with trade unions and local stakeholders, to discuss the next steps in their plans."
