Vauxhall to begin electric van production in Luton from 2025
Vauxhall will start production of its Vivaro Electric van in the UK from next year, securing the future of its Luton factory and around 1,500 jobs.
Limited manufacturing of the all-electric mid-sized van will begin in spring 2025 and gradually be ramped up over following months. The Luton plant will also produce the equivalent models from the other brands in the Stellantis group – the Opel Vivaro Electric, Peugeot E-Expert, Citroën ë-Dispatch and Fiat Professional E-Scudo.
While the majority of vehicles from Luton will be for right-hand-drive markets, it will also produce some left-hand-drive variants.
The move will make Luton Stellantis’s second EV facility in the UK, following the conversion of the former Astra factory in Ellesmere Port to build the smaller Vauxhall Combo. It comes shortly after the launch of a Zero Emissions Van Plan designed to accelerate the transition to all-electric vans.
Mark Noble, Luton plant director and UK manufacturing lead for Stellantis, said: “Following the transformation of our Ellesmere Port facility to produce all-electric compact vans, I’m pleased to announce that we will commence limited production of our medium electric van in Luton from next year, when the first customer vehicles will roll off the production line. This is a fitting way to mark Luton’s 120th anniversary.”
Luton has been building Vauxhalls since 1905, and commercial vehicle production began there in 1932. Successive generations of the Vivaro and its Stellantis relations have been built there since 2001.
The Vivaro and related models are powered by a 136bhp motor fed by a 75kWh battery. It is capable of up to 217 miles of range, while 100kW DC charging means a 5-80% charge can be completed in 45 minutes.
Maria Grazia Davino, group managing director of Stellantis UK, used the announcement to call for better political support for the roll-out of EVs. She commented: “Whilst this decision demonstrates Stellantis’ confidence in the plant, this first step in its re-development towards a fully electric future requires the UK government to stimulate more demand in the electric vehicle market and support manufacturers that invest in the UK for a sustainable transition.”
