Production of next-generation sports cars will be focused at its headquarters and manufacturing centre in Gaydon, Warwickshire. Production of the recently announced all-electric RapidE is also to be located at Gaydon, starting in 2018.
Aston Martin said it anticipated that up to 1,000 new jobs would be created across St Athan and Gaydon between now and 2020. “Across the supply chain and local businesses, a further 3,000 jobs will likely be created as a direct result of these investments,” it added.
St Athan won the Aston Martin business against around 20 competing sites. Occupying some 90 acres, the new Aston Martin facility at St Athan will re-purpose some of the facilities currently in use at the site by the Ministry of Defence. Centred on the transformation of the three existing ‘super-hangers’ at MoD St Athan, construction work is planned to start next year with full vehicle production starting in 2020.
St Athan will be the sole production facility for a new Aston Martin crossover vehicle.
Dr Andrew Palmer, CEO of Aston Martin, said: “During our 103-year history, Aston Martin has become famous for making beautiful hand-crafted cars in England. Through a detailed evaluation of over 20 potential global locations for this new manufacturing facility, we were consistently impressed with the focus on quality, cost and speed from the Welsh Government team.”
First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones, added: “We have been working closely with the company for almost two years in the face of fierce competition from other potential sites across the world. Our success today is testament to the reputation, dedication and skills of the Welsh workforce, all qualities that are synonymous with such a luxury, hand-crafted brand as Aston Martin.”
