Local leaders were delighted after Vauxhall's owners made a £100m commitment to its Ellesmere Port plant, safeguarding jobs at the site.
Stellantis confirmed the huge investment at a press conference today, where the company announced plans for its Cheshire hub to become its new centre for manufacturing electric vans.
The news means the future of the plant has been secured, with hundreds of jobs at the site - and thousands more in the supply chain - effectively saved.
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Reacting to the news, Cllr Louise Gittins, leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “We are delighted at the decision reached by Stellantis to invest in the future of low carbon vehicles at its plant here in Ellesmere Port.
“After a period of uncertainty about the future of the site, this is welcome news, not just for Ellesmere Port, but for the entire region.
“Today’s announcement comes as a result of detailed discussions behind the scenes by the company, government officials, the council and its local partners including Cheshire College South and West."
The Labour leader said the news showed the borough’s future prospects are bright.
She added: “The fact that Stellantis has committed to continue to invest in Ellesmere Port and safeguard hundreds of jobs comes at a time when our borough really needs it.
“We are particularly excited that the parent company is committing to producing electric vehicles at the plant, which will secure future jobs in the region.
“This forms part of Ellesmere Port’s critical transition as an international centre of innovation and manufacturing within the low carbon economy.
“It is clear that our borough has an exciting future ahead of it. We are beginning to lead the way when it comes to renewable energy and green technology.”
Around 800 people are directly employed by the Vauxhall plant, known for manufacturing the Astra model, making the company a major employer in the area.
Justin Madders, Labour MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston, was also delighted about today’s announcement.
He said: “Such great news for Ellesmere Port; investment in manufacturing, furthering the green agenda and of course securing those jobs that mean so much to the town and beyond. Vauxhall Motors has a bright future!”
Business leader Clare Hayward MBE, chair of the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership, spoke about the company’s history in the area.
She said: “Vauxhall Ellesmere Port has been a mainstay of our region’s industrial landscape since 1962 and its skilled and flexible workforce has proved time and again to be among the best in the automotive sector.
“We are therefore delighted to welcome this news, which safeguards the long-term future of the plant.
“Investing in the industries of the future including EV [electric vehicle] technology is essential to Cheshire and Warrington’s future as we establish ourselves as a world leader in the low carbon economy Stellantis’ investment is therefore both timely and prescient and will have a catalytic impact across our region.
“We are particularly pleased that we have been able to help develop a package of energy investments in the plant that will help the plant achieve net zero carbon by 2030.“
Ellesmere Port will become the first Stellantis plant to produce a solely battery-electric model, in both commercial and passenger versions, by the end of next year, for Vauxhall, Opel, Peugeot and Citroën brands and for both domestic and export markets.
The news was first confirmed on Stellantis' website ahead of the press conference.
Earlier this year, Vauxhall's French parent company PSA merged with Fiat Chrysler to form a new automotive superpower called Stellantis.
Following that merger, it was revealed that the future of the North West plant was in doubt - largely due to the upcoming ban on new petrol and diesel cars, meaning plans to continue building the Astra there were scrapped.
This means the news today will come as a huge relief for workers and for the wider region.
From later next year, the Ellesmere Port plant will build electric vehicles including the Vauxhall Combo-e Life, Opel Combo-e Life, Peugeot e-Rifter and the Citroën e-Berlingo.
Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Kwasi Kwarteng, has said today's decision will "power Ellesmere Port into a clean future".
In a statement the Conservative MP said: "Ellesmere Port’s proud tradition in auto manufacturing will continue for many years to come thanks to today’s investment.
"Stellantis’ decision to double down on their commitment to this site is a clear vote of confidence in the UK as one of the best locations globally for competitive, high-quality automotive production.
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"Today’s decision will not only power Ellesmere Port into a clean future, but will secure thousands of jobs across the region in the supply chain.
"In this global race to secure electric vehicle production, we are proud to support Britain’s auto sector in this crucial transition as we work to build back better."
