Expansive automotive component facility established in Cheshire, covering an area as extensive as nine football fields, generating approximately 200 new employment opportunities within the local region.
Stellantis, the car juggernaut, has just unleashed a new vehicle parts distribution center in Ellesmere Port, less than half a year after they shut down the Vauxhall van factory in Luton, tossing 1,100 jobs into peril. This latest move marks the vehicle component hub for a whopping ten Stellantis-owned brands across the UK and Ireland.
Every year, this gargantuan 60,000 square meter warehouse – the size of nine football pitches – will spit out an impressive 4 million parts. Of the 240 workers on site, an impressive 200 are fresh hires for the region, boosting Stellantis' existing Cheshire workforce, which is already at around 1,100 people.
Nestled next to the company's electric van factory, it's the very first dedicated mass-production site for EVs in Britain after its transformation in 2023. Stellantis splurged £100 million on this 60-year-old car factory, once known for assembling Astra family hatchbacks, to bolster its commercial vehicle manufacturing operations in the UK.
The Luton van factory's doors met their final close on March 28, putting the fate of 1,100 workers in question, with some offered roles at the Ellesmere Port facility, albeit more than 150 miles away.
Batting for an enhanced aftersales service, Andy Kite, Stellantis UK's parts and service director, announced, "This impressive new UK Parts Distribution Centre enables us to boost our aftersales service. Its central location offers swift UK coverage and delivery times, with the capability to deliver parts for repairers as early as the next working day, reducing the wait time for customers significantly."
The center employs 243 workers operating over two shifts a week, capable of distributing up to 140,000 parts housed in the facility and supplying 19 regional hubs. Boasting an outstanding BREEAM accreditation, the center stands tall as the world's leading sustainable assessment method for the built environment and infrastructure.
Despite protests from unions calling the Luton factory closure a slap in the face for Luton's citizens, Stellantis pressed ahead, electing to shift all van manufacturing – along with some staff – to the North West town. This parts center at Ellesmere Port marks another step in Stellantis' ambitious plan to sell a staggering 75 electric vehicle models globally by 2030.
In 2024, Stellantis saw a significant uptick in battery vehicle sales, particularly in the UK, where it was the top electric van manufacturer and captured a hefty 10% of the electric vehicle market. With this zero emission mindset, Stellantis designed the center with sustainability as the main goal, incorporating self-generated energy, water harvesting, and energy-efficient systems, all while being the first UK warehouse to earn the elite BREEAM certification. Sounds like Stellantis is staying true to its word and taking sustainability seriously!
The new Stellantis parts distribution center in Ellesmere Port, serving ten brands, not only boosts aftersales service with quick delivery times but also offers job opportunities in the manufacturing industry, with around 200 fresh hires joining the workforce. This massive facility, housing up to 140,000 parts, is an integral part of Stellantis' financial strategy to expand its business in the UK and Irish market, aligning with its long-term goal of selling 75 electric vehicle models worldwide by 2030.
