Vauxhall Motors is closing its Luton plant after nearly 120 years, causing implications for the wider motoring industry.
Matas Buzelis, car expert at vehicle history checking service carVertical, comments: “The closure of Vauxhall’s Luton plant is another body blow to the government’s electric cars’ strategy.
“The strict sales targets that it has set the industry is causing chaos for manufacturers as they struggle to adapt to the changes.
“Vauxhall’s decision comes off the back of Ford’s announcement that it is cutting 800 jobs in the UK, and there are fears that other carmakers will follow suit.
“While the government may need to rethink its plans, manufacturers also need to show greater agility and listen to what consumers want when it comes to electric vehicles (EV).
“Too many people are being priced out of the new EV market, and there needs to be more of a focus on producing affordable models that appeal to a wider customer base.
“What we’re seeing is manufacturers trying to dictate what cars buyers should purchase, but buyer demand should be shaping the development of next-generation cars. If consumers aren’t convinced by the vehicles on offer, then they’re unlikely to make a purchase.
“With stiff competition coming from the Chinese market, European manufacturers are going to come under even greater pressure. The industry needs to rethink its approach quickly.”
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