Nick Reilly,Vauxhall chairman Nick Reilly, said at the Detroit motor show he would not resign over the decision to close the Luton Vectra plant.

He vowed to fight to secure Ellesmere Port as the second-string plant following General Motors decision not to build next year's Vectra replacement at Luton.

GM Europe president Mike Burns said: "My preference as the back-up Vectra line is the UK facility because it covers the British market which is important to us."

Full interview in the January 19 issue of Automotive Management.