Opel/Vauxhall today announced Luton as the production location for the next generation Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro light commercial vehicle.
Production of the next generation model at the Luton plant is scheduled to start in 2013, continuing the important role played by the UK in the Opel/Vauxhall manufacturing network.
“Confirmation that the new Vivaro van will be produced at Vauxhall’s Luton plant is great news for all its employees and a huge vote of confidence in UK automotive manufacturing,” said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. “The van will be sold across Europe helping to boost exports and contribute to the re-balancing of the economy.”
Today’s news follows the joint announcement between Opel/Vauxhall and Renault in September 2010, when both companies agreed to continue their successful cooperation in the Light Commercial Vehicle segment.
This cooperation goes back to 1996 when the first generation of the Opel/Vauxhall Movano and Renault Master program was announced. Since then, the cooperation expanded to include Vivaro/Trafic. In 2010, this new second generation of the Renault Master and Opel/Vauxhall Movano Van program was successfully launched with an extended model range including rear wheel drive versions and a number of factory produced specially converted vehicles.
The current Vivaro and Trafic models were first produced in 2001, and by the end of 2010 Opel/Vauxhall and Renault had built over 1.25 million Trafic and Vivaro. While the sister models are being jointly developed and produced in Opel/Vauxhall and Renault-Nissan plants, they are independently marketed and sold through the respective brand distribution channels.
