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Vauxhall deal: PM set to meet Peugeot boss Vauxhall deal: PM set to meet Peugeot boss
(35 minutes later)
Prime Minister Theresa May has agreed to meet the head of France's Peugeot Group to discuss the planned takeover of Vauxhall in the UK.Prime Minister Theresa May has agreed to meet the head of France's Peugeot Group to discuss the planned takeover of Vauxhall in the UK.
Peugeot wants to buy General Motors' loss-making European arm, which includes Vauxhall plants at Luton and Ellesmere Port.Peugeot wants to buy General Motors' loss-making European arm, which includes Vauxhall plants at Luton and Ellesmere Port.
There are fears that the deal could lead to job losses.There are fears that the deal could lead to job losses.
Peugeot boss Carlos Tavares is also set to hold talks with Unite union leader, Len McCluskey, to discuss the matter. Carlos Tavares, boss of Peugeot's owner PSA Group, is also set to hold talks with Unite union leader, Len McCluskey.
The company said it was engaged in a "constructive dialogue" with all parties.
Vauxhall employs 4,500 workers at the two plants, with thousands more involved in its retail and components chain.Vauxhall employs 4,500 workers at the two plants, with thousands more involved in its retail and components chain.
Analysis by business correspondent Joe Lynam
Apart from meeting the Prime Minister, PSA will also see Germany's Angela Merkel. It could end up like a corporate beauty parade as Britain and Germany hope to persuade PSA not to shut factories in their respective countries.
That's now a real possibility after General Motors said this week that it was in talks to sell its European brands of Opel and Vauxhall to PSA.
European car manufacturers have far more production capacity than they need and PSA will probably want to consolidate its factories if it acquires GM Europe.
Vauxhall's factories in Ellesmere Port and Luton are both very efficient, but they could face export tariffs when Britain leaves the single market, and probably the customs union, in two years - making those plants unviable.
A Downing Street spokesman said a request for a meeting with Mr Tavares had been received, adding: "The meeting will take place, in principle, subject to diary availability."A Downing Street spokesman said a request for a meeting with Mr Tavares had been received, adding: "The meeting will take place, in principle, subject to diary availability."
Unite general secretary Mr McCluskey said he was pleased Mr Tavares had "responded speedily and positively" to his request for a meeting to discuss Peugeot's intentions.Unite general secretary Mr McCluskey said he was pleased Mr Tavares had "responded speedily and positively" to his request for a meeting to discuss Peugeot's intentions.
He said he would use the meeting to press the case for the UK's "world class facilities and workforce", and ensure Mr Tavares understood that Luton, Toddington and Ellesmere Port, and thousands of dedicated UK workers, deserved "a strong backer and a positive future".He said he would use the meeting to press the case for the UK's "world class facilities and workforce", and ensure Mr Tavares understood that Luton, Toddington and Ellesmere Port, and thousands of dedicated UK workers, deserved "a strong backer and a positive future".
On Friday, Business Secretary Greg Clark said he had held "constructive" talks in France with the PSA Group board and French industry minister Christophe Sirugue.On Friday, Business Secretary Greg Clark said he had held "constructive" talks in France with the PSA Group board and French industry minister Christophe Sirugue.
On Tuesday PSA, which already works with General Motors in Europe on several projects, announced a takeover was among "numerous strategic initiatives being considered". PSA said it was engaged in a "constructive dialogue" with all parties in the bid for GM's European division, which includes German-based Opel as well as Vauxhall.
A spokesman said: "Our intention is to establish the same maturity in our exchanges in France, Germany and the UK. This is why Carlos Tavares has asked to meet Theresa May as it was done with German authorities."
The company said that its contact with trade unions in Germany and the UK would be driven by the same "spirit of co-construction" that it had with French unions.