Ellesmere Port is ‘key’
February 19th, 2009 by Richard Aucock
Vauxhall’s biggest factory in the UK should continue to have a future, despite parent company GMs’ US plight
Production for the next generation Astra model has already been secured by the company’s plant in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. A UK Government grant of £8.7 million for training helped here.
The company will start full 3-shift production of the new family car in September. It will be the first plant in Europe to do so, months ahead of other locations for Astra production.
Ellesemere Port will thus be producing the launch new-shape Astras, in time for its world debut later this year.
A key car for Vauxhall, the Astra is a top-4 best seller in the UK. In 2008, over 90,000 cars were sold. The plant has the ability to produce over 150,000 cars. 60 per cent of the new Astra model will be for export.
It is currently running reduced working time patterns. Ellesmere Port employs 2200 workers. Vauxhall extended the Christmas shutdown to a month, and put workers on a 4-day week.
Employees were also offered the chance to take an eight-month sabbatical on 30 per cent pay. Few showed interest in the proposal.
Discussions are ongoing with unions about cost-cutting.
A spokesman said European restructuring was ‘work in progress.’
‘There are no new developments to come (from yesterday’s news)’.
Vauxhall also produces vans at its factory in Luton, Bedfordshire. A spokesman said the unique design of the plant gives it an advantageous position for when future model discussions occur.
A new link road is under construction, linking the facility to the recently-widened M1.
By Richard Aucock