Vauxhall’s manufacturing plant in Luton has built its one millionth Vivaro-type van.
The milestone Vivaro was handed over to BT Fleet, Vauxhall’s biggest Vivaro customer.
Vauxhall is the UK’s number one commercial vehicle maker, a position the manufacturer has held for 13 years since Vivaro production started.
The lynchpin of Vauxhall’s top-selling van range, approaching 250,000 Vivaros have been sold in the UK – including 24,500 so far this year.
Vauxhall’s chairman and managing director, Rory Harvey commented: “We are very proud to celebrate this milestone at our Luton manufacturing plant.
“Our hardworking and dedicated workforce at Luton produce vehicles of exceptional quality so it is no surprise these UK-built Vivaro vans are so successful in the marketplace.”
Launched in 2014, Vauxhall’s latest Vivaro secured 1,500 jobs at the UK’s last van manufacturing plant after workers won a 10-year contract and a £185m investment.
Thanks to the outstanding attitude and work ethic of the workforce, the Luton plant beat world class competition from across Europe to build the new van.
Rival Ford shut its Transit factory in Southampton in 2013, making Vauxhall’s Luton facility the sole flag bearer for UK van manufacturing – on a site where over 8m vehicles have been built since 1905.
The factory is a major exporter with 52% of production destined for European markets.
Service firms across the country also benefit from £600m of business over the life of the new Vivaro with 40% of content sourced locally from UK suppliers, up from 24% for the previous generation van.
