Minister: Plants ‘assured’
September 10th, 2009 by Richard Aucock
BUSINESS minister Pat McFadden says Magna has told him it sees a future for both UK Vauxhall plants.
The minister said Vauxhall’s new owners Magna had personally pledged to Government that both factories are in its future plans.
‘We now have to hold them to that – make those assurances stick,’ said the minister.
For its part, a Magna spokesperson has just said the firm is ‘committed to keeping the Ellesmere Port plant open, to make the Astra.
There is also an existing contract in place to make vans at Luton until 2013 – and Magna will honour those.
After this, it will ‘look at the business case’ for the factory.
What has NOT been made clear, though, is the extent of any job cuts at either plant, if any.
The all-new Astra launches this winter, and is a key car for the future of the firm. Magna will tolerate no hitches in its quick roll-out to market, leaving Ellesmere Port in a strong position.
The recession-hit van sector is less assured, but now seems to have until 2013 to make a case for itself.
Details are rolling out all the time; we’ll keep you posted here at Car Dealer Magazine!
By Richard Aucock
Vauxhall SOLD: Worst case scenario?
Tags: GM, government, Magna, Vauxhall
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