Speaking at the official launch of the latest Astra (late last month), Vauxhall managing director and chairman Tim Tozer, who was at the Ellesmere Port production facility as cars began to roll off the production line, said that the plant can “go on and on and on”.

He added that if the new model is received as well as expected, it will lead to a third shift and more than 400 new jobs.

The Astra Sports Tourer was awarded to Ellesmere Port in 2012 ahead of competition from sister plants in Germany, thereby safeguarding 2,100 jobs at the site.

“Since then, the plant and workforce have been gearing up for the launch of what the company says is its highest-quality product ever.

“The energy that has gone into doing what has been done to get to this point and to be recognised within General Motors Europe as the factory now launching this car to the highest standards is a credit to the men and women who work here.

“I am sure this factory will go on and on and on, and there’s no reason why it should not, if we keep on doing what we are doing here.” said Mr Tozer.

When Vauxhall’s US parent — General Motors (GM) (www.gm.com)— confirmed Ellesmere Port as the lead site for the new model, the company said it could lead to up to 800 new jobs and a third shift. The plant has taken on a further 300 staff so far, bringing total staffing for the site to 2,100.

Mr Tozer said GM will now await reaction to the model before introducing a third shift. Gavin Lochhead, Ellesmere Port strategy manager, said a third shift would lead to a further 400 jobs and could generate 1,000 more for component suppliers.

Although Ellesmere Port is the lead plant for the new Astra model, three other sites have also been chosen to build the car: Gliwice (Poland), Shenyang (north of Shanghai) and Lords Town (Ohio). Mr Lochhead said: “We started working with our Chinese, US and Polish teams three years ago.

“The car is badged as a Chevrolet in China, but as a Chevrolet and a Buick in the USA. It is the same car, built on the same platform.”

He said that the Chinese factory is currently building 40 cars per hr, while the US plant is building 60 cars per hr. “We are planning to do 40 an hour from next year. That is 120,000 vehicles a year, but we could build 180,000
on three shifts.”