Recent comments from GM Europe CEO Karl-Friedrich Stracke left many workers across the pond nervous for their jobs at Britain’s Ellesmere Port plant past 2014. The plant, which builds the Vauxhall Astra, was rumored to be shutting down in the not-too-distant future, as GM Europe looks to restructure and to eventually bring itself out of the red. But in a recent report from the German publication Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, word has it that the plant will remain open beyond 2015, as the company channels production of the Astra from Rüsselsheim to Ellesmere.
The article also notes that the current Opel/Vauxhall Astra takes up one third of Rüsselsheim plant capacity, but is not in danger of shutting down, as the the plant will increase production of the larger Insignia. The transition will be timed perfectly with the launch of the next-generation Astra, meaning that retooling is most likely in order for Ellesmere as well. Still no word on the Bochum, Germany plant, however.
Comments
Good news for the Brits
Makes obvious business sense not to shut their last car plant in one of gm’s major markets.
Germans will just have to except they’re not efficient enough and too costly
Moving a build of 12,600 cars to the uk is not a plant saver.