This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51914412
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Coronavirus: Vauxhall factories to shut down over pandemic | Coronavirus: Vauxhall factories to shut down over pandemic |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Vauxhall's parent company will shut all of its European manufacturing plants due to fears over the coronavirus. | Vauxhall's parent company will shut all of its European manufacturing plants due to fears over the coronavirus. |
| PSA Group said plants at Ellesmere Port and Luton will close this week and will remain shut until at least 27 March. | PSA Group said plants at Ellesmere Port and Luton will close this week and will remain shut until at least 27 March. |
| In a statement, the firm said it had seen a "significant" drop in demand and disruption to supply chains. | In a statement, the firm said it had seen a "significant" drop in demand and disruption to supply chains. |
| Other manufacturers such as Ford and Nissan have already suspended work at factories in Spain and Italy due to the coronavirus outbreak. | |
| Fiat Chrysler has said it will suspend production at the majority of its European factories for the same period. | Fiat Chrysler has said it will suspend production at the majority of its European factories for the same period. |
| PSA Group, which also owns Peugeot, Citroen and Opel, said staff at its UK plants would continue to be paid during the shutdown. | PSA Group, which also owns Peugeot, Citroen and Opel, said staff at its UK plants would continue to be paid during the shutdown. |
| Coronavirus crisis | Coronavirus crisis |
| The Vauxhall plant in Luton builds the Vivaro van and employs more than 1,000 people. Another 1,500 others work at Ellesmere Port building the Vauxhall Astra. | The Vauxhall plant in Luton builds the Vivaro van and employs more than 1,000 people. Another 1,500 others work at Ellesmere Port building the Vauxhall Astra. |
| They are two of the 15 manufacturing sites currently operated by PSA Group across Europe. Other sites are located in Germany, Spain, Portugal, Poland and Slovakia. | They are two of the 15 manufacturing sites currently operated by PSA Group across Europe. Other sites are located in Germany, Spain, Portugal, Poland and Slovakia. |
| The company has been badly affected by the coronavirus pandemic, which has affected the supply of parts. It is also causing a significant drop in demand, particularly in Italy, which is one of the worst-hit areas in Europe. | The company has been badly affected by the coronavirus pandemic, which has affected the supply of parts. It is also causing a significant drop in demand, particularly in Italy, which is one of the worst-hit areas in Europe. |
| The firm says it wants to protect its workers, with serious cases of the virus having been found close to some of its production sites. | The firm says it wants to protect its workers, with serious cases of the virus having been found close to some of its production sites. |
| What do I need to know about the coronavirus? | What do I need to know about the coronavirus? |
| The closures will be staggered, with plants in south east France and Madrid stopping work on Monday, with others following later this week. | The closures will be staggered, with plants in south east France and Madrid stopping work on Monday, with others following later this week. |
| Ellesmere Port is due to shut on Tuesday, while workers in Luton will down tools on Friday. | Ellesmere Port is due to shut on Tuesday, while workers in Luton will down tools on Friday. |
| Fiat Chrysler, which is in the process of merging with PSA, is closing its plants in Italy, Serbia and Poland. | Fiat Chrysler, which is in the process of merging with PSA, is closing its plants in Italy, Serbia and Poland. |
| Elsewhere in the UK, Jaguar Land Rover says production is continuing as normal at its UK plants in Castle Bromwich, Halewood, Wolverhampton and Solihull. | Elsewhere in the UK, Jaguar Land Rover says production is continuing as normal at its UK plants in Castle Bromwich, Halewood, Wolverhampton and Solihull. |
| BMW, which runs a large Mini assembly plant at Cowley, near Oxford, also says production is currently unaffected. | BMW, which runs a large Mini assembly plant at Cowley, near Oxford, also says production is currently unaffected. |
| Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to hold a conference call on Monday with carmakers about potentially switching to producing ventilators and other medical equipment, as the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise. | Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to hold a conference call on Monday with carmakers about potentially switching to producing ventilators and other medical equipment, as the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise. |