Aston Martin’s new plant in St Athan, Wales will be up and running in 2020.
The automaker will initially use the plant to build an SUV and later add production of two sedans, possibly wearing Lagonda badges.
A former military base has been chosen as the site. Construction will commence in 2017, centering on the transformation of three hangers. It won’t be the first time Aston Martin has used a converted hanger. The famous Olympia building in Aston Martin’s former home of Newport Pagnell, now the automaker’s heritage center, also started life as a hanger.
While the new plant won’t be ready for a few years, Aston Martin is already recruiting staff. Over 40 people have begun work across the business where they are being fully trained at Aston Martin’s existing plant in Gaydon, England. They will work on Aston Martin’s sports cars in Gaydon until the St Athan plant is ready.
Aston Martin DBX concept, 2015 Geneva Motor Show
“We are proud of the fact that we have a world-class team building our cars so it is vital that the new Welsh workforce is equally dedicated and passionate,” Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer said in a statement.
The SUV to be built in St Athan was previewed in 2015 by the DBX concept car. It will be a sleek, sporty design with plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains on offer. It is expected to be Aston Martin’s most popular model, with early estimates of 3,000 units annually.
The two sedans to join the SUV in St Athan are expected to include a roomier, more conventional model to replace the Rapide as well as a high-end sedan to take on the Bentley Mulsanne and Rolls-Royce Phantom.
Back in Gaydon, Aston Martin will build the DB11 as well as the Vantage and Vanquish and their respective successors. If all goes to plan, Aston Martin will eventually start production of a mid-engine supercar in Gaydon. Production of these sports car models is to be limited to 7,000 units annually.
