Stellantis plans to transfer operations from its Luton plant near London to its Ellesmere Port site in northwest England, putting more than 1,100 jobs at risk as the automaker grapples with a slow electric-vehicle market and fierce competition from Chinese rivals.

Vauxhall has announced plans to invest £50m in its Ellesmere Port plant as it prepares to cease manufacturing at its Luton site. As a result of the Luton closure, operations would be transferred to Ellesmere Port's North Road factory, creating hundreds of jobs.

In 2021, Stellantis invested £100m to convert the site to battery-electric LCV production, The work included the creation of a new body shop and a battery pack assembly area.Ellesmere Port also hosts the new 59,500m² Stellantis UK parts distribution centre, and is neat to the Green Automotive Hub located at Eastham docks.

Vauxhall is planning to shut its Luton van-making factory in a move that puts 1,100 jobs at risk, as net zero rules force it to curtail sales of petrol vehicles.

Volkswagen isn’t the only automaker eyeing plant closures as Stellantis has proposed consolidating their manufacturing footprint in the United Kingdom. As part of this effort, the company wants to close the Luton plant marking the end of 120 years of production since Vauxhall first established the facility in 1905.

The owner of Vauxhall has announced plans to close its van making factory in Luton, putting about 1,100 jobs at risk. Stellantis, which also owns brands including Citroen, Peugeot and Fiat, said it would consolidate its electric van production at its other UK plant in Ellesmere Port.

European auto-maker Stellantis said on Tuesday it planned to shut its Vauxhall van factory in Luton, southern England, putting more than 1,000 jobs at risk. The company, which also owns the Peugeot, Citroën,