- Luton Vauxhall factory makes last vehicle
- Shake-up by parent company Stellantis
- Move to its Ellesmere Port plant
- £50 million factory revamp
- Over 1,000 jobs at risk
After 120 years of manufacturing, a cornerstone of Luton’s identity, the Vauxhall factory, has officially made its final vehicle.
The very last Vauxhall Vivaro van rolled off the production line at the end of March, heralding the end of the long-standing relationship between Vauxhall and Luton.
The company first arrived in Luton in 1905, having moved out of London, and took its place in the newly built industrial estate. In the intervening years, the site has produced a wide range of vehicles, and in 2002, under the ownership of General Motors, the final passenger car, a Vauxhall Vectra, left the factory.
Rather than closing the Luton Plant, the company repurposed it, changing its focus to commercial vehicles such as the Vivaro van.
This time, the plant has not been so fortunate. A strategic shift by parent company Stellantis was announced in November, where it set out plans to consolidate UK commercial vehicle production at its Ellesmere Port plant. The factory will undergo a £50 million revamp to transition into a dedicated electric LCV manufacturing plant.
The decision sparked concern over the economic fallout for Luton and its local community, with over 1,000 jobs at risk. Stellantis has stated there will be a transition period to transfer machinery and share process knowledge from Luton to Ellesmere Port. Luton Borough Council tried negotiating with Stellantis to mitigate the impact but was rejected.
Cllr Javeria Hussain, Portfolio Holder for Employability and Skills, Luton Borough Council: “I’m so angry at Stellantis, so, so angry that they didn’t even give us an opportunity, a chance to put an alternative perspective. We put in an offer that they rejected, that would’ve somewhat helped our residents, but they just weren’t interested.”
Luton South MP Rachel Hopkins also paid tribute to the workforce, acknowledging their dedication until the end and describing Vauxhall as a key part of Luton’s heritage.
Rachel Hopkins, Luton South MP: “I stand with the workforce and their families at Luton’s Vauxhall plant as the final vans rolled off the production line this afternoon, following the devastating decision by Stellantis to close the plant.”
The closure was strongly condemned by the General Secretary of Unite, Sharon Graham, as she branded Stellantis’ decision as a “betrayal” and described the closure as “a total disgrace.”
What makes the timing of the closure particularly striking are the reports that the plant had been profitable and production of the new electric Vivaro LCV had been scheduled for 2025. That manufacturing responsibility will now lay with the Ellesmere Port plant in Cheshire.
In an attempt to secure the site’s future in some capacity, Luton Borough Council expressed interest in purchasing the land occupied by the Stellantis factory. Negotiations were, however, unsuccessful, leaving the site’s future still in doubt.
“Our employees always remain our priority, and we continue to act responsibly towards our colleagues in Luton,” said a Stellantis spokesperson. “We continue with direct consultation meetings, relocation support for those who wish to transition to Ellesmere Port and onsite support activities, such as job fairs, CV writing, retraining support and wellness sessions.”
The Stellantis plant at Ellesmere Port, which recently celebrated its 60th anniversary, will begin production of the electric Vivaro and its Citroen, Fiat, Peugeot and Toyota-badged versions in the coming months.
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