Aston Martin opens south Wales factory to build first SUV

Aston Martin DBX Prototype. Courtesy of Aston Martin

Aston Martin Lagonda opened its St Athan facility today which it says is “a luxury manufacturing plant that will ultimately become the Home of Electrification” when the marque’s electric models enter production.

The factory in the Vale of Glamorgan will produce its new DBX model, an SUV that will leave the production line in the first half of 2020 in an attempt by manufacturer to double its annual production numbers after a difficult 2019. The DBX will initially start life with petrol power before being fitted with hybrid technology.

Last month TheBusinessDesk.com reported how the Gaydon-based luxury car manufacturer was losing £1m a week in the first half of the year.

It has endured a difficult first year as a public company, with its share price dropping 55% and wiping nearly £2.5bn off the company’s value since its float last October.

Chief executive, Andy Palmer, said he wanted to bring the carmaker into the modern era and broaden its appeal and the DBX would be the brand’s first sports utility vehicle in its 106-year history.

The new factory, he said, would eventually employ about 1,000 workers with south Wales beating off bids to build the new car from rival bids in the UK and US.

The opening comes just a week after Ford announced it would close its Bridgend engine plant in the neighbouring county of Mid Glamorgan in September 2020 with the loss of 1,700 jobs.

By 2021, 7,000 vehicles are set to be built at the factory matching Aston Martin’s main facility in Warwickshire.

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