Vauxhall owner plans to shut Luton van factory, putting 1,100 jobs at risk

Stellantis could close its Luton plant and move production to Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

The owner of Vauxhall has announced that it plans to close its van factory at Luton, in a decision that will put 1,100 jobs at risk of being cut or moving location despite the UK government preparing to relax rules on electric cars.

Stellantis said it would shift van production from Luton, Bedfordshire, to another factory at Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, blaming the UK’s economic conditions and the government’s zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate.