The owner of Vauxhall and Peugeot on Tuesday said Britain’s “challenging” EV sales quota played a “significant part” in its decision to consolidate its UK operations at the Ellesmere Port factory in Cheshire.

Vauxhall's owner Stellantis said it was planning to shut the site in April 2025, blaming the UK's "stringent" zero-emissions targets. | ITV News Anglia

More than 1,100 jobs at the van-making factory are at risk, but Stellantis said it is hoping to transfer "hundreds" of Luton jobs to the group's Vauxhall site in Ellesmere Port. It is now in consultation with unions and employees over the proposals, which will also see it invest £50m into the Ellesmere Port factory.

Motor giant Stellantis says it is closing the van making plant in the context of the UK's rules on electric vehicle sales.

Vauxhall is planning to shut its Luton van-making factory in a move that puts 1,100 jobs at risk, as net zero rules force it to curtail sales of petrol vehicles.

Stellantis plans to shut its Vauxhall van factory in England, putting more than 1,000 jobs at risk as it joins rival automakers in scaling back operations in a difficult trading environment.

European auto-maker Stellantis said on Tuesday it planned to shut its Vauxhall van factory in Luton, southern England, putting more than 1,000 jobs at risk. The company, which also owns the Peugeot, Citroën,

Stellantis has announced its intention to close their Luton plant in the United Kingdom. The facility was slated to begin building mid-size electric vans next spring, but the automaker wants to consolidate production at Ellesmere Port.