Luton is reeling from the news that Vauxhall is set to close its car factory after 120 years in a move the company is blaming on the Government’s Net Zero EV sales targets. The Mail has more.
Stellantis, which also controls the Fiat, Peugeot and Citroen brands, has blamed Government EV sales targets for the decision to shutter the factory, which first opened in 1905 and has been making vans for almost a century.
The Luton factory had been set for a retooling to make the electric version of the Vivaro van before the plug was pulled on Tuesday afternoon – to the shock of workers, some of whom have worked at the plant for decades.
Factory workers were handed notices yesterday to inform them of the plan to consult on the plan to close Luton, while also investing £50 million in the Ellesmere Port facility in Cheshire so the vans can be made there, 140 miles away.
More than 1,100 jobs are at risk – though Stellantis says “hundreds” of roles will be transferred to the other factory, with relocation packages on offer.
The leader of Luton Council, Hazel Sim called the news a “devastating blow” for the town.
Some, including one forklift driver, had to learn via messages on WhatsApp because he wasn’t on shift – a move the worker described as “pretty rubbish”.
“There’s a lot of people there, a lot of people coming up to retirement and youngsters – it’s going to hit the town hard,” said the man, who spoke to the BBC anonymously.
“As there’s a lot of people that depend on Vauxhall to supply parts, there’s going to be a big knock-on effect.
“It’s going to hit the town hard. It will be huge.”
Cllr Hazel Simmons MBE, leader of Luton Council, said: “Today’s news that Vauxhall plans to close its van making factory in Luton is a devastating blow for our town.”
Seems that Luton is another town missing out on all those ‘green jobs’ we were promised.
Worth reading in full.
Stop Press: In the Spectator, Ross Clark says the “EV craze is killing our car industry“. He points out that the Zero Emissions Vehicle mandate was introduced by the Conservative Government using its Brexit freedoms to be stricter than Europe (thanks, guys) and that Stellantis was all in favour of the mandate when it was consulted on it 2023. Madness.
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