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Vauxhall celebrates one million Vivaro vans built in Luton
2nd December 2015
Vauxhall’s manufacturing plant in Luton has built its one millionth Vivaro-type van.
The milestone Vivaro was handed over to BT Fleet, Vauxhall’s biggest Vivaro customer.
Vauxhall is the UK’s number one commercial vehicle maker, a position the manufacturer has held for 13 years since Vivaro production started. The lynchpin of Vauxhall’s top-selling van range, approaching a quarter of a million Vivaros have been sold in the UK including 24,500 so far this year.
“We are very proud to celebrate this milestone at our Luton manufacturing plant,” said Rory Harvey, Vauxhall’s Chairman and Managing Director. “Our hardworking and dedicated workforce at Luton produce vehicles of exceptional quality so it is no surprise these UK-built Vivaro vans are so successful in the marketplace.”
“I’m delighted to take delivery of the one-millionth Vivaro on behalf of BT Fleet," said Mike Langford, Senior Customer Relationship Manager, BT Fleet.
"We have purchased 13,368 Vivaros from Vauxhall over the past 11 years and they have served us well. The van has evolved over time to meet the changing needs of our workforce, and I believe the vans we are taking delivery of at the moment are their best yet.
"As with all the commercial vehicles on out fleet (circa 30,000) we work very closely with manufacturers like Vauxhall to source the right product that is able to meet the needs of our people today and for the next five to seven years.
"Key to us when deciding which product to buy is working very closely with the people who will be driving the vans, manufacturers and converters to get the right product aligned to our business needs and strategy."
Vauxhall’s all-new Vivaro, launched in 2014, secured 1,500 jobs at the UK’s last van manufacturing plant after workers won a 10-year contract and a £185 million investment.
Thanks to the outstanding attitude and work ethic of the workforce, the Luton plant beat world class competition from across Europe to build the new van.
Rival Ford shut its Transit factory in Southampton 2013 making Vauxhall’s Luton facility the sole flag bearer for UK van manufacturing – on a site where over eight million vehicles have been built since 1905. The factory is a major exporter with 52 per cent of production destined for European markets.
Service firms across the country also benefit from £600 million of business over the life of the new Vivaro with 40 per cent of content sourced locally from UK suppliers, up from 24 per cent for the previous generation van.