Vauxhall Prepares to Boost Van Production

General Motors Co.'s Vauxhall unit is preparing to add a second shift and increase output of Vivaro commercial vans nearly 50% at its factory in Luton, England, the Financial Times reports.

The van, which was co-developed by GM and Renault/Nissan, also is marketed as the Renault Trafic and Nissan Primastar.

Vauxhall Managing Director Tim Tozer tells the newspaper that Luton will hire about 400 workers and boost annual Vivaro output to 67,000 units from the current 45,000 units.

The British factory currently exports half the vehicles it makes. Tozer indicates the ratio will rise to 60% when Luton adds a second shift. The FT cites unnamed sources who say the factory could add a third shift if demand is strong enough.

The Luton facility, which has made Vauxhall vehicles for a century, won rights to build the Vivaro in a competition with Renault SA's assembly plant in Sandouville, France.