Hope for Astra production hike as GM chiefs arrive

STAFF at Vauxhall should gain a clearer picture of the future this week after top-level meetings between bosses of parent company General Motors and the government.

After visiting Germany today, Fritz Henderson GM’s chief executive and Nick Reilly, head of international operations, will meet officials from the Department of
Business tomorrow and Wednesday for the first time since the US car-maker’s U-turn on plans to sell its European business.

According to reports at the weekend Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant, which employs around 2,200 people could be a major winner.

GM is said to have revived plans to boost production of the Astra at the factory because they want to exploit their most efficient factory in Europe.

Production could be stepped up to a three-shift system with output hiked from 145,000 cars a year to 180,000 Astras a year.

A third shift would potentially mean more jobs at the factory and crucially put it in a better position to produce the Ampera electric car.