Industry News
Ellesmere Port back on track
14th December 2006
Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port factory has improved quality and productivity so much in the past six months that it is now competitive with GM’s other plants around Europe, and this could secure it a future beyond the current model Astra. This comes from one of GM’s top-ranking executives and will raise hopes that the plant will receive part of the investment for the next-generation Astra. A decision is due to be made in the middle of next year.
According to Vauxhall chairman and GM Europe marketing chief Jon Browning, improvements in working practices and productivity after a move to a two-shift working pattern and 1000 redundancies have greatly boosted the plant’s competitiveness. This is a critical year for the plant’s future, which was in doubt as little as twelve months ago. The future of Ellesmere Port is tied to a decision in mid-2007 as to which plants will get the investment for the next-generation Astra, due around 2009/10.
Ellesmere Port is in competition with Bochum in Germany and Antwerp in Belgium. The Belgian plant received a boost last week when it was announced as the source for up to 40,000 Saturn-badged Astras a year to be exported to the US from next autumn. Antwerp was chosen because it makes a full-line of hatchback Astras, including the three-door model not built at Ellesmere Port.
Source: Autocar (www.autocarmagazine.co.uk)
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