It's always nice to report positive news for the British car industry, particularly when it comes to manufacturing. So the announcement of Aston creating a new facility at St Athan in Glamorgan is a jolly good story, particularly as it was chosen above 20 other potential candidates.
Even Aston can't make a factory look that good
"We were consistently impressed with the focus on quality, cost and speed from the Welsh Government team. As a great British company, we look forward to St Athan joining Gaydon" said Aston CEO Andy Palmer. Construction of the new plant on the former MOD site will begin in 2017 as part of a £200m investment in new products and facilities; production of a car, the Aston crossover previewed by the
DBX
Moreover, the investment will extend to Gaydon too. Capacity is being upped to cater for a production version of the RapidE in 2018, plus an expanding sports car range which aims to hit 7,000 cars a year by 2020. Aston forecasts around 1,000 jobs being created between Gaydon and St Athan, plus another 3,000 through the supply chain and local businesses.
Given the focus of the Glamorgan manufacturing site will be the crossover, it's expected that around 90 per cent of cars made there will be exported. America and China are of course still lapping up SUVs, so an Aston version would surely be well received.
Exciting times ahead for Aston and British manufacturing then. In the more immediate future, there's the DB11 at Geneva next week to get excited by. Not long to wait now!
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