Vauxhall is commemorating the production of 1.5 million Vauxhall Vivaro and its sister vans at their Luton plant.
Since its inception in 2001, the Vauxhall Vivaro and its companion models which now include the Citroen Dispatch, Fiat Scudo, Peugeot Expert and Toyota Proace have garnered immense popularity with more than 350,000 Vivaros being sold in the United Kingdom alone.
James Taylor, MD, Vauxhall, said: “Luton has been home for Vauxhall commercial vehicles for nearly a century. Since 2001, the Vivaro has become one of Britain’s most recognisable vehicles on the road, and has helped businesses across the country and abroad. Vauxhall is incredibly proud to have the vehicle reach the important milestone of 1.5 million models produced..”
In celebration of this achievement, the 1.5 millionth Vivaro-platform van, specifically a Vauxhall Vivaro Prime Van, was handed over to Virgin Media O2.
Mike Brown, Head of Fleet & EV Transition, Virgin Media O2, said: “The Vivaro is the ideal van for our needs, so I’m thrilled that Virgin Media O2 is the recipient of the 1.5 millionth Vivaro produced at Luton. As we transition to a fully electric fleet by 2030, the Vivaro Electric is becoming a key part of our business, aiding our transition to a more sustainable future and helping our employees carry out service and install visits at customers’ homes across the country.”
Having commenced operations in 1905, the manufacturing plant in Luton has been a longstanding home for Vauxhall vehicles, spanning over a century. Notably, it witnessed the assembly of the first commercial vehicles in 1932, with the panel vans 'VYC' and 'VXC' marking the inaugural products to roll off the production line.
Throughout the years, Luton has consistently delivered a diverse range of esteemed commercial vehicles for Vauxhall, including notable models such as the Chevanne, Astravan, Midi, and Rascal. The introduction of the Vivaro in 2001 marked the inception of a generational legacy that continues today.
Vivaro vans produced in Luton have played vital roles in serving numerous leading fleet partners of Vauxhall, including Virgin Media O2, BT, Sky, and Royal Mail. Additionally, these vans have been distributed to European customers under the Opel badge.
As an integral part of Stellantis, the Luton plant contributes to the production of various vehicles, including the Vauxhall Vivaro, Opel Vivaro, Peugeot Expert, Citroën Dispatch/Jumpy, and Fiat Scudo. It also manufactured the previous generation Vivaro for other brands.
In response to the growing demand for electric vehicles, the vans are now available as electric models with the Vauxhall Vivaro Electric, Peugeot e-Expert, Citroen e-Dispatch, and Fiat E-Scudo with either a 50kWh or 75kWh battery. These vehicles have a WLTP range of up to 205 miles on a single charge, with a maximum payload capacity of 1,226kg.
Stellantis has invested £100 million to facilitate the transformation of its Ellesmere Port plant into an electric vehicle manufacturing site. In 2023, production of fully-electric variants of the Vauxhall Combo, Peugeot Partner, and Citroen Berlingo small vans will commence at this facility, thereby contributing to the company's commitment to sustainable mobility.
