Aston Martin linked to new West Midlands facility

ASTON Martin’s plans to develop a new crossover vehicle for the global market could mean further good news for the West Midlands automotive industry.

The company is thought to be considering plans to create a new production facility in the region so it can press ahead with plans for the new vehicle, which could be on British roads as soon as 2017 if the company’s strategy goes to schedule.

With production facilities at Gaydon in Warwickshire already stretched, the company is looking for a new site and is thought to favour one close to its existing base, although overseas options still remain a possibility.

Plans for a facility at the Browns Lane site in Coventry – ironically the traditional home of Jaguar – are thought to have been excluded and the focus has now shifted to Minworth, near Sutton Coldfield, although Alabama and South Wales have also been mentioned as possible locations.

Prologis Park, Midpoint Way could be one location, which is again ironic as JLR already have a base there having agreed a deal earlier this year.

But with the infrastructure already in place it would make the facility more attractive for the sports car manufacturer.

It is perhaps somewhat ironic that plans for a new factory should be forthcoming, just as Aston Martin is preparing to shed almost 300 jobs.

However, the company has repeatedly stressed its growth ambitions over the last 12 months and is developing a raft of new products – although a crossover vehicle would be a new departure for the firm.

The weekend has also thrown up another reason for a possible expansion of facilities for the company.

There are strong rumours in the F1 sector that the company could be preparing a partnership with the Force India team, a move which would see the team rebranded as Aston Martin. Such a move would give the company an even higher profile but it would mean a greater focus on R&D and the need to have facilities based close to the F1 heartland in Oxfordshire.