Vauxhall Commits to Ellesmere Port – with Brexit Condition

The next generation of the Vauxhall Astra will be built at Liverpool City Region’s Ellesmere Port car plant if a satisfactory Brexit deal is reached, its owners have said.

The PSA Group said it would also invest in the Rüsselsheim plant in Germany to manufacture Opel Astras from 2021.‘

It said the decision would be conditional on the New Vehicle Agreement, negotiated with Unite.

In a statement, it said the decision demonstrated “the continuous effort and commitment” of the group.

Currently the Vauxhall and Opel Astra are built in Ellesmere Port in Cheshire, which was opened in 1962, and in Gliwice, Poland.

The PSA Group said the decision on the allocation to the Ellesmere Port plant “will be conditional on the final terms of the UK’s exit from the European Union and the acceptance of the New Vehicle Agreement, which has been negotiated with the Unite trade union”.

The New Vehicle Agreement is an agreement between management and unions covering working practices along with terms and conditions which are struck prior to the production of new models.