Vauxhall owner says plants could shut unless UK helps EV makers

It is the second time in a year that Stellantis has questioned the viability of Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant. Photograph: Stellantis/Getty Images

The owner of the Vauxhall, Peugeot and Citroën brands has warned its car plants in Ellesmere Port and Luton could close unless market demand for electric vehicles picks up and the UK loosens regulations.

The UK managing director of Stellantis said the company did not want to shut operations in the UK but it would make a decision in “less than a year” in the face of unreasonable government sales quotas and the lack of consumer incentives in relation to VAT on vehicles and electricity.