Following rumors that GM’s Vauxhall plant at Ellesmere had a bleak future can now, apparently, be put to rest. According to thisismoney.co.uk, the Ellesmere plant’s salvation may come along with production plans for the Opel/Vauxhall Ampera in the UK.
The plant currently produces the Astra, and it will do so until 2020, at a rate of at least 160,000 cars per year. This will add an additional 700 jobs to the already 2,000-strong workforce at Ellesmere. Another reason for choosing the UK is that around 5,000 units are expected to be sold there, around half of the entire European production run of the Ampera.
With its superior styling, and more aggressive lines, the Ampera looks miles better than the Chevrolet Volt it’s based on, and once European production starts, its price of the next-gen Ampera (which is expected to be launched in 2015) will drop significantly, from the current UK price of £28,995 (€36,000), with the £5,000 (€6,200) Government subsidy already deducted.
With its superior styling, and more aggressive lines, the Ampera looks miles better than the Chevrolet Volt it’s based on, and once European production starts, its price of the next-gen Ampera (which is expected to be launched in 2015) will drop significantly, from the current UK price of £28,995 (€36,000), with the £5,000 (€6,200) Government subsidy already deducted.