Autocar Business has interviewed Paul Willcox, who is currently transitioning from leading Vauxhall to becoming the UK head of Stellantis, which, in addition to Vauxhall, also includes the Jeep, Citroën, DS, Peugeot, Alfa Romeo and Fiat brands.
While Willcox said Vauxhall was proud of its British heritage, he added that it was important to ensure the brand also represented something going forward, which is why the company set a deadline of making electric versions of every model available by 2024. There is a further deadline of going fully electric by 2028, two years before the deadline set by the UK government.
When asked about the Ellesmere Port facility’s current status, Willcox said the company had invested €100 million to enable:
“A huge transformation of the plant from internal combustion to EV. It’s a big investment and I hope to do the same at Luton. If you compare production now to 20 years ago, then Vauxhall is one of the few survivors—and it is here for the long term.”
Willcox said electrification had safeguarded the long-term future of the factory, with the last internal combustion car, an Astra, having come off the production line in March. The full interview can be read on the Autocar website.
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