Skip advert
Advertisement

‘PSA’s confidence in Britain bodes well for the future’

Steve Fowler thinks Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port factory should be turned into a global plant for PSA’s right-hand-drive cars

Opinion - PSA

I always get a kick out of visiting factories, especially when there’s good news to report. So it was great to be at the Vauxhall plant in Luton – home to vehicle manufacturing since 1905 – to hear that its future had been secured until the end of the next decade at least.

Advertisement - Article continues below

New Vauxhall/Opel owner PSA announced investment of around £100million to build the new Vivaro van in Bedfordshire, along with its Peugeot Expert and Citroen Dispatch sister models.

Alongside PSA boss Carlos Tavares was Business Secretary Greg Clarke, revealing that the UK Government has chipped in £9million to help secure the 1,400 jobs at Luton (with more possible) – money well spent in my book.

What struck me, though, is the confidence PSA has in the UK’s ability to build quality vehicles efficiently, even with Brexit hanging over us.

Which prompted me to ask Tavares about the Vauxhall plant in Ellesmere Port and when we might hear good news about that. “Let’s do some maths,” he said. “Current Astra was launched in 2016. A seven-year model cycle takes us to 2023. Decisions in terms of product allocations need to be three years ahead of a launch, so that will be 2020.”

Okay, so here’s some maths for you, Mr Tavares: Ellesmere Port has a capacity of over 200,000 cars per year. It currently makes around 92,000 – all Astras, of which around a third stay in the UK. Peugeot, Citroen and DS sell around 140,000 cars here. If half of those are on the same EMP2 platform that also underpins Vauxhall’s Grandland X, and that new Astra (and probably Insignia and others) will use, why not turn Ellesmere Port into a global plant for right-hand-drive PSA cars?

With PSA brands on a roll and the boss confident in Britain, that makes complete sense, doesn’t it?

Do you agree with Steve? Let us know your thought's on PSA's future plans in Britain below...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Best new cars coming in 2024
Best new cars coming in 2024 - header image

Best new cars coming in 2024

There are some big new models from the likes of BMW, Citroen, Dacia, Ford, MINI, Skoda and more on the way in 2024
Best cars & vans
23 Jul 2024
New electric cars coming soon: the fresh EVs of 2024 and beyond
Future electric cars - header image

New electric cars coming soon: the fresh EVs of 2024 and beyond

The EV explosion has brought a huge range of choice to the market already but it’s only going to get bigger in the coming months
Best cars & vans
4 Jul 2024
Vauxhall could stop UK EV production due to ZEV mandate
Vauxhall Ellesmere Port

Vauxhall could stop UK EV production due to ZEV mandate

Vauxhall’s parent company warns of “consequences” due to the UK’s tough ZEV mandate quotas, while the SMMT boss says car makers “have the stick, we ju…
News
25 Jun 2024
Used Vauxhall VX220 (2000-2005) buyer’s guide
Used Vauxhall VX220 - front

Used Vauxhall VX220 (2000-2005) buyer’s guide

A full used buyer’s guide on the Vauxhall VX220, which was on sale between 2000 and 2005
Used car tests
22 Jun 2024

Most Popular

Car Deal of the Day: grab the Vauxhall Grandland family SUV for only £169 per month while stocks last
Vauxhall Grandland - front cornering

Car Deal of the Day: grab the Vauxhall Grandland family SUV for only £169 per month while stocks last

Our Deal of the Day for 3 October lets you get a fully loaded family SUV for well under £200 per month
News
3 Oct 2024
New entry-level Tesla Model Y Long Range RWD boasts 373-mile range
Tesla Model Y update 2024 - front

New entry-level Tesla Model Y Long Range RWD boasts 373-mile range

Tesla’s best-selling Model Y electric SUV now costs from £46,990 – exactly £2,000 more than before
News
4 Oct 2024
EVs outlasting ICE cars says Renault boss
Renault Zoe - front tracking

EVs outlasting ICE cars says Renault boss

Electric car batteries are holding up very well against the test of time
News
4 Oct 2024