21.07.09: Mandelson tour latest
July 21st, 2009 by Richard Aucock
LORD Mandelson is certainly working hard for the automotive industry in the UK.
Last week he was at Toyota, following an announcement the maker is to build the first European-made hybrids there.
Then, it was off to Nissan Sunderland, after confirmation it will begin building electric car batteries there (a move many see as a precursor to full electric car production).
Where next? Well, it’s off to Ellesmere Port this Wednesday. Vauxhall’s Astra-producing plant, and a big employer in the UK automotive industry.
Why, we wonder? Well, Wednesday is also when we’ll learn which of the takeover proposals owner GM is going to favour.
One, Magna International, will guarantee to keep the plant open, until at least 2013. By which time, Car Dealer Magazine hopes, green car production of the electric-powered Vauxhall Ampera will be well under way then.
Could this therefore be the third business Mandelson helps secure in a week? We do wonder as to the significance of the visit, which is scheduled for late in the afternoon, just as the US begins its day…
Rest assured, we’ll be following the news wires closely, to see what the latest chapter in Lord Mandelson’s whistle-stop UK tour brings!
Richard.