United Kingdom - History

Vauxhall celebrated its centenary in 2003, having built its first car in the Vauxhall district of south London in 1903.The company moved to Luton, Bedfordshire in 1905 and was acquired by GM in 1925. It now has two main bases, Luton and Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.

Since it opened over forty years ago the Ellesmere Port plant has produced over four million vehicles. Since 2004 it has produced the new Astra and more recently was chosen as the main site for the new Astravan production.

IBC Vehicles Ltd., a joint venture with Isuzu Motors Ltd was formed in Luton in 1987. Production of the Vivaro van and its derivatives continues at GMM Luton, employing nearly two thousand workers and it recently celebrated the production of the 400,000th van.

Chevrolet U.K. joined the GM family on January 1st 2005. Chevrolet's U.K. headquarters opened in Luton close to the Vauxhall headquarters in January 2006 and Saab moved into the GM U.K. office to signify a greater integration of the GM brands.