Vauxhall Motors is a British car manufacturer owned by General Motors (GM) and headquartered in Luton. Founded in 1857, it began manufacturing cars in 1903 and was acquired by GM in 1925. It has been the second-largest selling car brand in the UK for over two decades. The current Vauxhall range includes the Agila (city car), Corsa (supermini), Astra (small family car), Insignia (large family car) and Zafira (compact MPV).
Vauxhall has two major manufacturing facilities, in Luton (commercial vehicles) and Ellesmere Port, UK (passenger cars). The Luton plant currently employs around 1,170 staff and has a capacity of approximately 100,000 units. The Ellesmere Port plant currently employs around 2,100 staff and has a capacity of approximately 187,000 units.
The Vauxhall product range is largely identical to that of Opel, GM's German subsidiary, and most models are principally designed in Germany. A high proportion of Vauxhall-branded vehicles sold in the UK are produced at Opel factories in Germany, Spain and Poland, and roughly 80% of Vauxhall Vauxhall has produced yet another capable variant of the Astra in the form of the estate. It offers more rear legroom than the hatchback models as well as a usefully large carrying capacity.
It might not have the biggest boot in the sector, but it is helped by some innovative features such as the FlexOrganiser, which can keep various items in the boot separate. There's a wide range of petrol and diesel engines too that will suit most driver's needs. The cabin is a bit of a let down though - it lacks the sophistication of alternatives such as the Ford Focus and the layout of the buttons is poor. However, that doesn't prevent the Astra estate from being a comfortable and useful family car. production is exported, most of which is sold under the Opel brand.