Good news for the UK Motor Industry

June 6, 2012 - PRLog -- As we celebrate the Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, it is a time when many people reflect on how the world has changed over the past few decades. The UK motor manufacturing industry grew immeasurably during the early reign of our Queen, however, over the last 30 years, a combination of Union disputes and foreign competition has seen the manufacturing base of motors diminish significantly in the UK.

However, over the last few years there has been somewhat of a comeback, with manufacturers opting to invest in the UK, and bearing the fruits of that decision.

Car giants such as Nissan have shown that producing vehicles in the UK is both viable and profitable. The rising from the ashes of Land Rover at the former Ford factory at Halewood on Merseyside, has been an unrivaled success in the form of the Range Rover Evoque, and other models.

Manufacturing figures are up in 2012 compared with 2011, and although not yet near to the pre recession figures, it certainly is a step in the right direction.

One particular story of the last few weeks has struck a personal chord with us at GapInsurance123. It is not necessarily the news of new job creation, although that is in the pipeline, but more of the maintaining of a workforce that has produced one of the biggest success stories of the last 30 years in the UK motor industry.

The Vauxhall plant at Ellesmere Port in Cheshire, recently announced it would continue to produce the ever popular Astra model at its factory. This came as some relief to its workforce, and the surrounding town which has been reliant on car production at the plant for nearly 50 years. At its height, the plant employed around 10,000 workers, and even in todays highly mechanised production lines, some 2,500 workers are employed. The news of the retention of production will see the workforce double in size again, with the Vauxhall Ellesmere Port plant continuing to be the major employer in the area.

The roots of the Ellesmere Port plant date back to the early 1960's. Vauxhall's were looking for a site to build a factory, and legend has it, a delegation were passing the old RAF Hooton Park airbase on the way to another destination, when it became apparent that it would be the ideal base for a car factory. The fact that the plants first Director, American Tom Williams, was familiar with the site from his days in the US Airforce in World War II.

Initially opened for parts production, it eventually developed into full car production in 1964. The first well known model to roll of its lines was the Vauxhall Viva, a mid range rival to the Ford Anglia and Morris Minor.

Many of the workforce had migrated from other areas to come and work at Ellesmere Port, including the authors grandfather. Uprooting a family from Liverpool, and moving them to new housing near to the Vauxhall plant was a common occurrence for many in the 1960's. The promise of secure work was not to be sniffed at, and the employment was not without fringe benefits.

All workers were entitled to a discounted vehicle as they worked for Vauxhall's. It was quite common for a production line worker to order themselves a base level model, yet when it reach the end of the line it would be laden with every conceivable 'extra' imaginable!

The Viva was replaced by the Vauxhall Chevette in 1975, and then in 1981, the car that has remained on the production line for 30 years, the Vauxhall Astra. When the first box shaped Astra rolled off the line, no one would have guessed just what an impact it would have on the UK, and Europe wide under the Opel badge, public. Rarely out of the top 5 best selling vehicles, it is a true and positive reflection on the Ellesmere Port workforce that the vehicle is ever popular today.

Today, the Astra shares much of its 'dna' with its larger sibling, the Insignia, and this is why production of the Big Brother also takes place at Ellesmere Port.

In times of woe, it is indeed heartening to hear one of the true old stagers of the motor production industry in the UK continues to beat the odds, to expand and prosper. I think my dear old grandad would most definitely have approved!

https://gapinsurance123.co.uk/503/goodnewsinthemotorindustry

http://easygapinsurance.co.uk

http://easygap.co.uk