Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port manufacturing plant has been given another lease of life after Stellantis announced a £100 million investment in the factory. The investment will allow the plant to usher in a new era of electric vehicle manufacturing for Stellantis, owners of Citroen, Peugeot and Vauxhall.

Ellesmere Port will be the first of its plants to produce only battery-electric vehicles, in line with the Government’s decision to stop the sale of pure petrol and diesel-powered vehicles from 2030. By the end of 2022, the plant will begin producing solely battery-electric vehicles, both passenger and commercial, for Vauxhall, Opel, Peugeot and Citroen brands and for both domestic and export markets.

Stellantis is currently the LCV market leader in Europe and, in the UK, Vauxhall leads sales in the fast-growing all-electric LCV segment. The development of the Ellesmere Port plant will give Stellantis a well-grounded platform from which to continue its growth in the electrified sector.

“Performance is always the trigger for sustainability and this £100 million investment demonstrates our commitment to the UK and to Ellesmere Port,” said Carlos Tavares, chief executive officer at Stellantis. “I particularly want to thank our highly-skilled, dedicated workforce for their patience and contribution; we never let them down. 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.”

The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Kwasi Kwarteng, added: “Ellesmere Port’s proud tradition in auto manufacturing will continue for many years to come thanks to today’s investment. 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. 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.”

The plant at Ellesmere Port will celebrate its 60th anniversary next year, having been built in 1962, and produced its first car, the Vauxhall Viva, in 1964. Since then, over 5.2 million vehicles have rolled off the production line.

As the plant sets its sights on the future, the investment by Stellantis will see a transformation that will make Ellesmere Port ready for the changing face of manufacturing, with a new body shop, upgraded general assembly and the creation of an on-site battery pack assembly area. The plant will also be working towards carbon neutrality by the middle of the decade, with work commencing imminently on potential wind and solar farms.

Stellantis to build Vauxhall Combe-e electric van at Ellesmere Port
Vauxhall Combo-e electric van to be built at Ellesmere Port

Late next year will see the production of Vauxhall and Opel Combo-e, Peugeot e-Partner and Citroen e-Berlingo. These light commercial vehicles, and their passenger car variants, are all powered by a 136hp motor with a 50kWh lithium-ion battery. They are able to be charged at rates of up to 100kW and take as little as 30 minutes to charge from 0% to 80%. Under WLTP conditions, they are capable of up to 174 miles of range.

Vauxhall, Peugeot and Citroen brands have already committed to each offer all-electric versions of their entire respective van model ranges before the end of 2021. Fiat Professional is also committed to offering electrified and alternatively fuelled versions across its van range.

With rising LCV usage in urban areas, partly due to the growth in demand for online delivery services, these zero-emissions-in-use vans will make a significant contribution to reducing emissions in towns and cities across the country.

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