Ellesmere Port: Green shipping hub for vehicle plant opens

The hub provides a new shipping route between Ellesmere Port and its sister plant in Spain

A new £10m shipping connection which aims to reduce carbon emissions in the supply chain for a major vehicle plant in Cheshire has opened.

The Green Automotive Manufacturing Hub at Queen Elizabeth II Dock at Eastham combines road and maritime transport to link Stellantis's Ellesmere Port factory with its sister plant in Spain.

Peel Ports said it would take more than 14,000 trucks off the roads annually.

Its boss said it was a "gamechanger" in helping to combat climate change.

Electric vehicle production started at the Ellesmere Port plant in September, which is the UK's only factory dedicated to solely to electric vehicles.

The hub is a collaboration between Peel Ports, Suardiaz and Stellantis.

Claudio Veritiero, chief executive of Peel Ports, said: "This new Green Automotive Hub is set to be a gamechanger in cutting supply chain emissions and road congestion in the UK.

"We have consistently said that reducing road miles will be central to combating climate change, but we know that can only be achieved by providing sustainable alternatives utilising ports in close proximity to final destinations."

Diane Miller, Ellesmere Port plant director, said: "Following the start of electric vehicle production earlier this year, this is another important milestone for Ellesmere Port, enabling us to establish a sustainable supply chain through a new maritime shipping route with our sister plant in Vigo, Spain."

Juan Riva, president and chief executive of global logistics firm Suardiaz, said: "It will significantly reduce CO2 emissions by eliminating over 14,000 trucks from European and British roads."

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