Vauxhall to resume manufacturing at Ellesmere Port

Vauxhall will restart car production at its Ellesmere Port plant on August 17, following a closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.

During its closure, the Ellesmere Port site has remained active and implemented a protocol of strengthened health measures. This protocol, approved by management, has been fully audited, in order to assess its implementation. 

The plant employs some 1,000 people and built more than 60,000 Vauxhall Astras last year.

Demand for Groupe PSA's Luton-built Vauxhall Vivaro, Peugeot Expert and Citroen Dispatch vans, meant that a third shift operation was needed to increase output there. A number of Ellemere Port employees were deployed temporarily, last month.

Yann Vincent, EVP manufacturing of Groupe PSA said: “As industrial activity is driven by commercial activity, we are gradually and safely resuming our industrial activity at Ellesmere Port on 17th August.

“I would particularly like to praise the contribution of the Ellesmere Port employees who have supported the ramp-up of the production of Luton plant with a temporary transfer. This is a strong illustration that, together with Unite the Union, we have succeeded to protect both our employees and our operations in the UK in the difficult context of the Covid-19 crisis” 

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 health crisis, Groupe PSA has introduced more than 100 measures covering all the company's activities at industrial, administrative, R&D and commercial level.

One requirement is the daily checking of employees’ temperatures, in addition to their self-monitoring of symptoms. The wearing of glasses or goggles on site is also supplemented by a daily individual supply of masks, and respecting safe distances between people.