Vauxhall van is a record breaker

British van manufacturing has hit another milestone, with Vauxhall's announcement that the 500,000th Vivaro has rolled off the line

Auto Express Car Reviews

03rd July 2007

Having caused a stir at launch in 2001 with its radical looks, the load-lugger hit the half-million mark with a red SWB panel van at General Motors' factory in Luton, Beds. This plant produces all GM's European-spec low-roof vans, carrying both Vauxhall and Opel badges.

"The milestone shows how successful the Vivaro has been," said Luton plant boss Donna Sandford.

In van-making terms, GM's workforce is running slightly ahead of its rivals at Sevel Nord, the factory in northern France that assembles the Citroen Dispatch, Peugeot Expert and Fiat Scudo. It turns out an estimated 85,000 vans a year.

That's with a workforce of around 2,200, compared with only 1,700 people needed to keep the Vivaro's lines running. Impressive as all this sounds, the Vivaro's production performance contrasts sharply with that of another British-built vehicle launched in 2001 - the new Mini.

In virtually the same period, twice as many of the retro-styled hatchbacks have been produced - despite the fact that the Vivaro is sold additionally as a Nissan Primastar and Renault Trafic throughout Europe.