Over the past 18 months, Vauxhall Motors has awarded contracts to UK suppliers worth over €230m during the life of the contracts, making a significant contribution to the UK economy and securing turnover, exports and employment within the automotive sector.
Suppliers across the UK have been awarded contracts on the basis of quality, service, technology and price. This is a mix of businesses that supply Vauxhall’s two UK plants in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, and Luton, Bedfordshire, as well as export to GM divisions across the globe.
Bill Parfitt, Chairman of GM UK and Vauxhall Motors and also the first Chairman of the Automotive Council’s Supply Group, said: “Vauxhall is keen to build on the momentum and push for new business with UK suppliers, to the benefit of local economies and GM globally who are now increasingly aware of the great potential that resides in the UK.”
As an example, Cobra UK has won a number of contracts to supply, from its factory in Wales, various GM plants around the world - which also earned Cobra UK the Queen’s Award for Enterprise this year in recognition of its export achievements.
From 2012, Cobra UK is scheduled to produce components for Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant in nearby Cheshire, where the Astra Sports Tourer is built for the whole of Europe and beyond. From January to December 2011 alone, over 120,000 Sports Tourers left the production line, this estate model coming top of its segment not only in the UK and Germany, but also proving a huge success Europe-wide.
Vauxhall brings UK suppliers €230m business boost