Stellantis announces today a £100 million investment in Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port manufacturing plant. This will transform the site for a new era in electric vehicle manufacturing.
Ellesmere Port will become the first Stellantis plant to produce a solely battery-electric model, in both commercial and passenger versions, by the end of next year. This will be for Vauxhall, Opel, Peugeot and Citroën brands for both domestic and export markets.
This dedication to battery electric vehicles will go towards achieving the UK Government’s decision to ban the sales of pure petrol and diesel engined vehicles from 2030.
Stellantis’ investment in Ellesmere Port will leverage the performance improvement actions made possible thanks to a collaborative process between the company, the Unite the Union and based on the workforce’s drive to transform their plant.
Stellantis willingness to ensure a sustainable future for Ellesmere Port has been supported by the UK Government, the Cheshire West and Chester Council, Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise partnership and Chester College.
Carlos Tavares, Stellantis CEO, said: “Performance is always the trigger for sustainability and this £100million investment demonstrates our commitment to the UK and Ellesmere Port.
“Producing battery electric vehicles here will support clean, safe and affordable mobility for the citizens. Since 1903 Vauxhall has manufactured vehicles in Britain and we will continue to do so.”
Kwasi Kwarteng, UK Government, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, said: “Stellantis’ decision to double down on their commitment to this site is a clear vote of confidence in the UK as one of the best locations globally for competitive, high-quality automotive production.
“Today’s decision will not only power Ellesmere Port into a clean future but will secure thousands of jobs across the region in the supply chain. In this global race to secure electric vehicle production, we are proud to support Britain’s auto sector in this crucial transition as we work to build back better.”
From later next year, Ellesmere Port will build Vauxhall Combo-e, Vauxhall Combo-e Life, Opel Combo-e, Opel Combo-e Life, Peugeot e-Partner, Peugeot e-Rifter, Citroën e-Berlingo and Citroën e-Berlingo Life all-electric vehicles.
This new era of manufacturing will see a transformation of the Ellesmere Port plant with a new body shop, upgraded general assembly, a compression of the site area and the creation of an on-site battery pack assembly.
In addition, there will be further support to enable a pathway to carbon neutrality for the plant by the middle of this decade. The plant aims to be 100 percent self-sufficient for electricity with commencing imminently on potential wind and solar farms.
Stellantis has also announced the intention to consult on further investment into the Ellesmere Port site with the creation of a new UK parts distribution centre.
