Stellantis plans to transfer operations from its Luton plant near London to its Ellesmere Port site in northwest England, putting more than 1,100 jobs at risk as the automaker grapples with a slow electric-vehicle market and fierce competition from Chinese rivals.

European auto-maker Stellantis said on Tuesday it planned to shut its Vauxhall van factory in Luton, southern England, putting more than 1,000 jobs at risk. The company, which also owns the Peugeot, Citroën,

More than 1,100 jobs at the van-making factory are at risk, but Stellantis said it is hoping to transfer "hundreds" of Luton jobs to the group's Vauxhall site in Ellesmere Port. It is now in consultation with unions and employees over the proposals, which will also see it invest £50m into the Ellesmere Port factory.