Vauxhall’s Luton factory has shit down for good after operating for 120-years at the Bedfordshire site, parent company Stellantis confirmed.
The last Vivaro van rolled of the production line at 12:18pm on Friday, 28 March as the company will consolidate British van productions.
Closing the factory has put 1,100 jobs at risk and just a few hundred roles will be moved to Stellantis’s Ellesmere Port plant in Chesire.
The company will not invest £50 million into the Cheshire facility as part of the consolidation plan.
A spokesperson for Stellantis said, “Production of the current medium van range ceased today [Friday, March 28] in Luton.
“There will now be a period of transforming and transferring machinery and process knowledge to Ellesmere Port.”
The spokesperson added, “Production of the group’s medium all-electric LCV (light commercial vehicles) range (eK0) in Ellesmere Port will commence in Q4 2026.
“Our employees always remain our priority, and we continue to act responsibly towards our colleagues in Luton.
“We continue with direct consultation meetings, relocation support for those who wish to transition to Ellesmere Port and onsite support activities, such as job fairs, CV writing, retraining support and wellness sessions.”
Councillor Hazel Simmons MBE, Leader of Luton Council, said, “This is heartbreaking news and a devastating blow to Luton and the livelihood of the workers. Vauxhall has been an integral part of Luton’s heritage for decades.
“We did what we could to try and stop this closure going ahead and I feel angry that this decision will massively impact the lives of so many people.”
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