While speculation continues over European production of General Motors’ Ampera, the head of Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant near Liverpool, the only source of the Astra Sports Tourer, sees the factory in pole position.
Canadian plant director Tony Francavilla talked to Simon Warburton about GM’s new model, his views on Ellesmere Port’s outlook and industrial relations – three-quarters of the staff park their own Vauxhall models outside the plant – the after-effects of the Japanese earthquake and the massive new football sponsorship deal with the UK’s Home Nations.
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j:a How confident are you the Ampera will be built at Ellesmere Port?
TF: There are no plans we know of, no fixed plan when it will be brought to manufacture or even produced in Europe. If and when it does, obviously we will be considered.
I am pretty confident about the skill of our workforce and performance of our plant. Anytime you get a new product, especially when something brings new technology that we think represents the future, you can only hope and wait.
j-a: Do you think the relatively expensive price tag of the Ampera will be a barrier to sales?
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By GlobalDataTF: People who will buy the Ampera will be early adopters – once you get it into the marketplace it is not that complex. In time, prices will come down.
j-a: How have the employees and trade unions reacted to the challenging economic conditions of the past few years?
TF: My perception is the trade union leadership is very understanding of the business climate and geared to help us be competitive. That does not mean they are push-overs in negotiations. There is a healthy relationship between unions and management.
I am the recipient of good relations that existed here before my time. They have what it takes to keep this plant competitive. Unions have shown a history of doing what needs to be done to protect the future of this plant..
j-a: Has the supply chain disruption experienced by other UK auto assemblers affected Vauxhall at Ellesmere Port?
TF: We have not been affected by the Japanese situation here because we are a priority plant for Europe – we are the sole producer of the [Astra] Sports Tourer. We have been protected.
The other thing is, if you look at GM, our supply base is international – more so than some Japanese assemblers – they have been hit because more of their supply base is centred on Japan. We have not got piles of material stocked to the roof – we have a supply footprint that is more international.
j-a: What is the employment situation at Ellesmere Port, are you looking at altering any shifts?
TF: We have added 100 employees as part of our third shift. If demand continues to increase, obviously we will look at what we need to do. If we need to hire employees, we will look at it.
j-a: Vauxhall recently announced a major football sponsorship deal with the UK Home Nations – how has the Ellesmere Port workforce reacted to it?
TF: From an employee point of view it is extremely successful, the workforce is excited about it. What [Vauxhall managing director] Duncan Aldred has pulled off is remarkable with the football.
I am Canadian, I am an [ice] hockey fan, but when you look at the excitement here with football… people talk about it in the showrooms at the moment.
