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
Editor-in-chief

Steve Fowler has been editor-in-chief of Auto Express since 2011 and is responsible for all editorial content across the website and magazine. He has previously edited What Car?, Autocar and What Hi-Fi? and has been writing about cars for the best part of 30 years. 

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

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

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
12 Mar 2024
Vauxhall Frontera to be reborn as affordable electric family SUV
New Vauxhall Frontera teaser
News

Vauxhall Frontera to be reborn as affordable electric family SUV

An all-new Vauxhall Frontera will serve as the replacement for ageing Vauxhall Crossland, but grow in size to rival popular family SUVs such as the Ni…
29 Jan 2024
How Ford and Vauxhall became national treasures
Assortment of Fords and Vauxhalls
Features

How Ford and Vauxhall became national treasures

We take a look at the rivalry of two manufacturers that have battled for the hearts, minds and money of British car buyers
27 Dec 2023
'Once-dominant Ford and Vauxhall could become also-rans in the future'
Opinion - Ford plant
Opinion

'Once-dominant Ford and Vauxhall could become also-rans in the future'

Editor-in-chief Steve Fowler thinks Ford and Vauxhall need to get their pricing right in the EV era if they are to remain popular with customers
15 Nov 2023

Most Popular

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay
Road tax documentation
News

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay

Drivers with newer cars can expect to be paying roughly £10 more per year, a although the biggest gas guzzlers will fare the worst
26 Mar 2024
Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power
Dacia Sandero - front
News

Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power

Both the Sandero and Sandero Stepway ranges have been tweaked, gaining more safety features to meet the latest regulations
26 Mar 2024
Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years
Upcoming Audi models - four-way image
News

Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years

After a quiet few years, the German giant is gearing up for its biggest product onslaught to date
25 Mar 2024