Vauxhall Luton

The Vauxhall Luton plant was a motor vehicle manufacturing facility located in Luton, Bedfordshire, England. Operational from 1905 to 2025, it produced passenger cars and light commercial vehicles under the Vauxhall, Opel, Bedford, Renault, Nissan, Peugeot, Citroën, Fiat Professional, and Toyota brands. Its closure in March 2025 marked the end of 120 years of vehicle production in Luton.

Vauxhall Motors originated in South London as Vauxhall Iron Works, which began building cars in 1903. Seeking expansion space, the company relocated to Luton in 1905, where it established a factory on Kimpton Road.

In its early years, the plant produced successful models including the 9HP and the 18HP, followed by the iconic 30/98 sports car. During the First World War, the factory supported the war effort with D-Type staff cars and established a munitions plant producing shell fuses.

In 1925, General Motors acquired Vauxhall, launching a new chapter in the plant's history. Commercial vehicle production began in 1931 with the establishment of Bedford Vehicles, which became a major manufacturer of trucks and vans.

During the Second World War, the plant built around 5,640 Churchill tanks, 250,000 Bedford trucks, steel helmets, jerrycan sides, and aircraft components. It was bombed by the Luftwaffe in August 1940, killing 39 workers.

Postwar, the plant resumed car production with models like the Wyvern and Velox, and in later decades produced high-volume cars such as the Viva, Cavalier, Carlton, and Vectra. At its peak, the factory employed over 37,000 people.

In the 1980s, Vauxhall launched a joint venture with Isuzu to form IBC Vehicles. The factory began building light commercial vehicles, including the Bedford Midi and Rascal, and later SUVs like the Frontera.

In 1998, GM bought out Isuzu's share and renamed the plant GM Manufacturing Luton (GMM Luton).