Comment on Stellantis electric vehicle warning

“In its net zero strategy, the Government said it wanted the UK’s automotive sector to stay at the cutting edge and capture the jobs of the future as the world transitions to electric vehicles.

“But this warning from Stellantis is a stark reminder that the UK’s car industry faces a very uncertain future. The closure of Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port, a major future centre for electric vehicle production, would see thousands of jobs lost and the local economy devastated.

“While the likes of Stellantis and Jaguar Land Rover threaten to follow in the footsteps of Ford and Honda and move UK operations overseas, governments in the US and EU are attracting huge investments in their automotive sectors from corporations attracted by the generous incentives being offered for electric vehicle production.

“The Government needs to recognise that we are in a global race to build the clean technologies of the future, which are currently worth over £70bn to the UK economy. [2] Without action to bolster sectors like electric vehicles, business opportunities worth billions will be lost, as will tens of thousands of highly-skilled jobs.”

Stellantis owns Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citroen and Fiat, and the manufacturer had previously committed to making electric cars in the UK.