New Vivaro van secures jobs at Vauxhall factory

VAUXHALL has launched a van in a £185m investment that secures 1,200 jobs over the next decade and the prospect of more recruits in the pipeline.

The Vivaro will be built at the firm’s plant in Luton. Up to 70,000 vans will be built a year, with around half being exported.

Vauxhall said suppliers and service firms around the country will win £600m of new business as a result of the Vivaro programme.

Tim Tozer, managing director of Vauxhall, said: ‘The all-new Vivaro van is of critical importance to Vauxhall and its manufacturing facility in Luton.’

The Vivaro starts production this summer, with 40pc of its components coming from UK suppliers, many of whom are new to the company.

Vauxhall is the largest maker of light commercial vehicles in the UK, and has produced almost one million vans since the current model was launched in 2001. It goes on sale later this year priced from £17,995.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: ‘The launch of the new Vivaro is great news for British manufacturing.’

Len McCluskey, leader of the Unite union, said: ‘The new Vivaro is testament to the skills and dedication of the Luton workforce who have once again put together a world-class vehicle.

‘More investment like this is needed to create the high-skilled jobs and security we need to rebalance the economy and bring growth to all.’