In a devastating blow for the town of Luton, Vauxhall Motors, which has been a pillar of the community for nearly 120 years, is set to close its van-making factory. On Monday, parent company Stellantis announced the move, putting 1,100 jobs at risk and sparking fears about the local economy. Those who work at the plant were horrified to hear the news via WhatsApp messages or media reports. According to a forklift worker who had been with the company for 10 years, “a lot of people depend on Vauxhall to supply parts,” meaning the impact will be felt far beyond the factory walls.
Labour MP for Luton South and South Bedfordshire Rachel Hopkins called the development “deeply troubling” and a “real blow” to the area. She said she’d work with the government, Stellantis and Unite the Union to seek a solution that would safeguard the skilled workforce. Hazel Simmons MBE, leader of Luton Borough Council, expressed her devastation. She pledged to meet with trade unions and the plant’s management to find ways to provide practical support.
The closure will probably be particularly hard for older workers. The unnamed forklift driver noted that he was in his late 50s and believed it would be harder for him to find another job. Although he remained optimistic, saying, “luckily I’ve done other training so I can look for jobs elsewhere.” Despite the pain the closure will cause, some experts were not surprised. The proposal highlights the difficulties posed by making cars and parts in the UK in a post-Brexit climate.
Since the 1900s Vauxhall had been intricately linked with Luton. The company began making cars in south London but moved to a new factory on Kimpton Road in 1905. During World War One, it supplied cars for the war effort, and when General Motors took over Vauxhall in 1925, it retained the brand’s model range. The Luton operation produced Bedford trucks and buses in 1931, and during World War Two, it became a significant lorry supplier. The 1980s saw the decline of the Bedford brand, and at the end of the decade, van production moved elsewhere. In 2002, Vauxhall closed its Luton car plant, sparking the loss of around 1,900 jobs. Today’s announcement brings almost 120 years of Vauxhall’s history with Luton to an end
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