Astra Production In Doubt As Vauxhall's Owners Back French Plants

Further doubt has been cast over the future of Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port factory after the company's owners announced that several new models will be built at French manufacturing plants.

PSA, which also owns French brands DS, Peugeot and Citroen, today announced that "new vehicles" will be built at factories in Sochaux and Mulhouse, in eastern France.

The company will not reveal the details of these vehicles for "strategic reasons," but there is speculation that the next-generation Astra could be one of those new cars.

With more than 35,000 people employed by Vauxhall in the U.K. - and around 4,500 of those employed in the company's Ellesmere Port and Luton factories - closures could lead to substantial job losses.

Vauxhall refused to comment directly on today's announcement, but a spokesperson said:

"For the time being, [the PSA announcement] doesn't change anything for us. It's business as usual at our plants in Britain and that's all we can say on the matter."
Motor1.com has contacted PSA for comment, but has so far received no response.