Stellantis has announced that its Luton production plant will start producing medium-size electric vans next year as it expands its electrification plans in Britain.
Luton will continue to produce diesel versions of its mid-size vans, but from spring 2025 electric models will be produced alongside in an exciting next step for one of the UK’s oldest automotive factories.
When will the first electric vans be made in Luton?
Stellantis says that ‘limited production’ of its electric vans will begin in spring 2025 as it prepares for growing demand for electric mid-size commercial vehicles.
The firm says that work is starting in 2024 to prepare the Luton site for production of these electric models, which will be built alongside existing diesel vans.
Which electric vans will be made in Luton?
Stellantis has an especially broad line-up of electric vans, all of which are currently having mid-life facelifts.
The range of electric mid-size vans that will be made in Luton include the Vauxhall Vivaro Electric – and the rebadged Opel models – along with the Citroen e-Dispatch, Fiat E-Scudo and Peugeot e-Expert.
These medium-size electric vans are available with a choice of 50kWh and 75kWh batteries, with the latter delivering a maximum range of 224 miles.
Predominantly it will be UK right-hand-drive electric vans made in Luton, but it will also produce and export left-hand-drive versions too.
Is Stellantis a big player in the electric van market?
Stellantis sells electric vans from four different firms in Europe, giving it a strong hold of the market.
In Europe, Stellantis accounted for 30.4% of the van share in 2023, and it’s a major player when it comes to electric van sales in the UK, making up just under half of EV vans sold last year. The Vauxhall Vivaro Electric was the best-selling electric van, too.
How long has the Luton factory been around for?
The Luton production plant is the oldest vehicle production site in the UK, first opening in 1905 so it celebrates its 120th anniversary in 2025.
Luton was previously the home of Vauxhall, which manufactured various key models at the Bedfordshire plant over the years, including the Cavalier, Viva and Vectra, with the latter being the last car produced in Luton in March 2002.
Luton has since focused purely on commercial vehicles, producing the Vauxhall Vivaro from 2001, and more recently models from Citroen, Fiat and Peugeot following the creation of Stellantis.
