MP calls on car maker to review plant closure

An MP has called on a car maker to review its decision to close a factory in a town after the boss of the firm quit.

In November, Stellantis announced plans to close its van-making factory in Luton, Bedfordshire, putting about 1,100 jobs at risk.

Carlos Tavares, the chief executive of Stellantis, left the company on 1 December following a boardroom clash.

At Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Sarah Owen, the Labour MP for Luton North, asked the company to remain in the town or delay the site's closure until an alternative company could be found to run the factory.

When speaking in the House of Commons, Owen said: "Like every generation of Vauxhall worker in Luton, they meet every target set, they make every innovation demanded of them and they never give up."

She added "contrast that with Carlos Tavares, the [Stellantis] who quit days after making the decision to threaten more than 1,000 jobs in Luton."

In light of this "sudden departure", Owen asked Stellantis to "review the decision, do what is right by our town and stay put for good or until an alternative is found, to ensure that Luton's manufacturing history is also our future".

She said Stellantis "could not have asked for more from the workers at the Luton plant".

In response, Sir Keir Starmer said the government was "totally committed to supporting the workers and their families at this uncertain time".

He added the minister for industry would be meeting with the company "to discuss plans for workers and the site, to ensure that dedicated support is in place".

Following Stellantis' announcement to close the Luton factory, a spokesperson said: "There will be a meaningful dialogue with our union partners to agree the next steps.

"All situations will be taken into account and the company commits to providing the very best level of support for every single person impacted by this."

The company - which also owns brands including Vauxhall, Citroën and Peugeot - said it would combine its electric van production with its other UK plant in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.

Rules imposed to speed up the transition to electric vehicles (EV) in the UK partly drove the decision, the firm previously said.

Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.