Vauxhall, the British arm of General Motors, on Thursday ruled out job cuts at its main car plant as it announced plans to increase the factory's production.

Vauxhall said it was planning an additional shift at its Ellesmere Port site, northwest England. Union bosses however believe that the group's other British plant, in the town of Luton close to London, which makes vans, will soon officially hear that it is to lose about 300 jobs.

"The proposed plan is for Ellesmere Port to move to a three-shift production operation in 2011," Vauxhall said in a statement published Thursday.

"To support the launch in 2010 of the new (Vauxhall) Astra Sports Tourer (car) and to prepare for the third shift introduction in 2011, the plan is for no redundancies as all current labour would need to be utilised to staff the third shift.

"Plant and trade union senior leadership will now work together to develop the details of the plan in order to support the future strategy for Ellesmere Port," the statement added.

About 2200 workers are employed at Ellesmere Port, which switched from three to two-shift production three years ago.

Vauxhall meanwhile employs almost 1500 workers at the Luton plant, which makes the Vivaro commercial van.