The two GM-Vauxhall manufacturing plans in the U.K. reached production milestones last week, at nearly the same time. On July 4th, the 250,000 Astra Sports Tourer (wagon) rolled off the production line at Ellesmere Port, while the 900,000th Vivaro van was made in Luton less than 24 hours later.
Both Ellesmere Port and Luton have been allocated products future production — the next-gen Astra and Vivaro, respectively, thereby securing manufacturing into the next decade. Both facilities, according to GM, contribute significantly to the local and national economies, with 76 percent of vehicles built for export.
A little known fact about the Opel/Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer, which is assembled exclusively at Ellesmere Port for the European market, is that its entire upper-body structure was engineered by Vauxhall engineers in Millbrook, Bedfordshire, with “key dynamic elements tuned for UK roads” by the same group.
Comments
Vauxhall building cars since 1903 (a single cylinder 110 years ago) to today’s petrol, diesel & hybrid. 3, 4, 6 and 8 cylinder cars.
Congrats to the IBC team for this milestone and also for the continued success of the GME/Renault alliance. You’ve come a long way since our very challenging but successful launch of the X83 in 2001. Here’s to number 1,000,000 just around the corner!!
Vauxhall continues to be the bright spot in General Motors Europe and long may it continue. Congrats to all the staff at Luton and Ellesmere Port
Reasons to be cheerful 🙂
Next milestone closing there doors
Spelling ability matches intelligence level of comment (there??, try “their”)
“Millbrook” seems to be just a proving ground, whose location can be seen here in Google Maps
The Vauxhall Engineering Centre was established at the Millbrook Proving Grounds back in the late 1990’s primarily to support Light Commercial Vehicle development. It’s the first building on the left as you come through the main entrance off Sandhill Close.
I found later this section on the Millbrook proving ground within the en.Wikipedia.org article on General Motors Proving Grounds.
short <quote>
Construction began in 1968 and once opened acted as the testing site for many European GM models from, amongst others, the Vauxhall and Bedford companies. In 1988 the site was transferred to a new company, Millbrook Proving Ground Ltd as part of Group Lotus and began to offer its facilities as well to non-GM companies. With the sale of Lotus in 1993 Millbrook was transferred to GM Holdings UK Ltd as an independently managed company and began to diversify into all aspects of vehicle testing including emission control.
Facilities:
The centre provides vehicle test and development facilities including:
Vehicle and system assessment
Powertrain development
Safety testing.
These are staffed by engineering teams who work with manufacturers on their test and development programmes.
</quote>