The UK’s historic Ellesmere Port plant has transformed into the country’s first electric vehicle-only factory. After a £100 million investment from parent company Stellantis, the factory has begun production of battery-powered vans in the North West. Previously, the plant produced Vauxhall’s Astra, but now it will exclusively manufacture electric vehicles, including the Vauxhall Combo-e van, Citroen e-Berlingo, and Peugeot e-Partner. This shift towards electric vehicles demonstrates the UK government’s commitment to the automotive sector. The Ellesmere Port plant will also produce the Fiat E-Doblo electric van for the European market. The conversion of the factory involved building a new battery assembly shop, upgrading the assembly line, and relocating the old bodyshop. The site is now 60% smaller, improving energy efficiency and productivity. To further support the production of electric vehicles, a test track and parts distribution warehouse are also being developed. The opening of this electric vehicle-only site secures the future of car manufacturing in the UK and demonstrates the government’s dedication to the industry. This development comes in addition to other recent investments in the automotive sector, including Mini’s plans to manufacture electric vehicles in Oxford and Tata’s construction of a battery gigafactory in Somerset. Diane Miller, the plant director at Ellesmere Port, expressed optimism about the future of the factory and its contribution to job creation in the region. The Ellesmere Port plant has a long history, producing models such as the Viva, Chevette, and various generations of the Astra. It has manufactured over 5.2 million cars since its inception in 1962. The production of the latest generation Astra now takes place in Germany, while Ellesmere Port focuses solely on electric vehicles. The Vauxhall Combo Electric is among the first electric vehicles to be produced at the plant and features a 50 kWh lithium-ion battery and 100 kW electric motor, providing a range of up to 175 miles. Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citroen, and Fiat are currently the only mainstream automotive brands manufacturing vans in the UK. Alongside Ellesmere Port, these brands also produce vans at the Stellantis plant in Luton. The transformation of Ellesmere Port into an electric vehicle-only site marks a milestone in the UK’s automotive sector, ensuring the country remains at the forefront of innovation and creates jobs in the industry and supply chain.
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