Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant will not necessarily reopen in September as expected, with the decision depending on “demand”, according to the UK boss of its parent firm PSA.
Vauxhall announced in early June that it would not reopen until after 1 September due to “the commercial situation” of the Astra model built there, but today PSA managing director Alison Jones said that the factory reopening in September was not a done deal.
Talking on the FT’s Digital Future of the Car webinar, Jones said: “We haven’t given [Ellesmere Port] a firm date for reopening - we’ve been clear that we need to see demand. We’ve been clear that we need to see demand to open each and every one of our factories across the world. We are working closely with trade unions.”
Vauxhall’s Luton facility, where the Vauxhall/Opel Vivaro, Peugeot Expert and Citroën Dispatch are built, was one of the earliest plants to reopen in May having been closed since March. With strong demand for its commercial models, PSA has introduced a third shift at that site, with staff redeployed from Ellesmere Port to Luton for a temporary period on a voluntary basis.
Talking about its approach to reopening plants, Jones commented: “Our response has been a combination of health - we were one of the first to get our plants operating safely with barrier protocols - and then the economic situation. We’re not opening our plants until we know that demand is there. It’s no good making cars and vans and then parking them in a car park. Health is our priority and demand second.”
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It is not the fault of Peugeot
One of the conditions for the bailout is that PSA cars are built in France as far as possible.
Very true, the British government is doing nothing!!!!
Very true, the French are looking after the French!!!
jagdavey wrote:
The French did n't vote to leave a free trade agreement with 63 countries unlike the English and the Welsh. But of course all these trade deals will just roll over for the British...
It's not gonna reopen, is it????
If PSA were commited to Ellmere Port they would have put another model like an SUV through it. They have already said that Rüsselsheim in Germany will get the new Astra, so what does that mean for the British plant. Tavares is just waiting for a no-deal Brexit to use as an ideal excuse to close the plant. If that doesn't come along he'll use Covid-19 as another excuse. They use the "union-jack" in their advertising to show that Vauxhall is a British brand, they must think the British are stupid not to see through that.
jagdavey wrote:
And Mini's have union jacks in the lights, Volvo have swedish flags stiched onto the seats etc but that's ok. Sometimes hate just shines though in certain posts.
I imagine there are fields of
I imagine there are fields of new Astras, already built, just waiting for buyers, so no point in making more of them.
I really hope the next PSA based Astra is a good car and built here, but the current car doesnt seem to have much to recommend it.