Stellantis shuts down Luton factory despite promises

The Stellantis light commercial vehicle factory in Luton, UK has been officially closed in spite of the automaker’s earlier intentions to upgrade it to an EV manufacturing plant.

Vauxhall founded the industrial site in 1905. Stellantis Group had envisioned a bright future for it as an all-electric van and minibus factory, but the deadline for the upgrade came and went in March this year.

The company explained that plans had changed. All commercial EV production will now take place in Ellesmere Port, while the Luton complex will cease operation soon. All 1,100 workers employed there will be offered new jobs and/or retraining.

With no car manufacturer coming to replace Stellantis at the Luton site, its 120-year-old history of making cars can be considered over.