VAUXHALL’S Ellesmere Port plant is in the running to build General Motors’ pioneering new electric-powered car.
GM’s newly-appointed European boss, Nick Reilly, confirmed the plant was among those under consideration.
Mr Reilly, who was himself in charge of the factory in the early 1990s, was appointed to his new key role late last week.
During his first press conference he was questioned about alternative power sources for mass-produced vehicles, such as GM’s electrically-driven Ampera.
He replied: “We can take advantage of global technology and look at introducing hybrids. Ampera will be manufactured in Europe.
“Initially, the car will be imported from the US, but long-term we are looking for a local source. Ellesmere Port is one of the candidates, but there are others.”
On a recent visit to the Ellesmere Port plant, which employs hundreds of people from Chester, Wrexham and Flintshire, Prime Minister Gordon Brown pledged the government’s full backing for the Ampera to be built there.
This is seen as a vital next step in safeguarding the factory’s long-term future after the latest Astra’s production run finishes in five years' time.