Luxury sportscar maker Aston Martin announced that work was under way on what it described as “one of the most significant and exciting developments at the factory and global HQ for several years, as the business prepares to grow substantially its manufacturing facilities and workforce”.
The automaker is expanding its factory at its Gaydon, Warwickshire, headquarters as it gears up for a new generation of cars.
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It is also adding around 250 new jobs in engineering, manufacturing and commercial functions in the next few months.
The development plan includes a new chassis and pilot build facility, new offices, and extension of the parts and logistics storage area. The new facilities will cover an extra 10,000 sq m and major development work is scheduled to be completed in 2015.
Chief financial officer, Hanno Kirner, said: “The investment in our Gaydon HQ forms part of our long-term strategy which is focused around being the number one British luxury sports car brand.”
Manufacturing operations director Keith Stanton added: “I am very happy to be able to execute another part of our manufacturing strategy by extending our already highly-efficient facility.
“The improvements at Gaydon are a big step forward and the development will enable us to streamline and finesse our manufacturing processes which, in turn, will allow us to be leaner and even more competitive.
“We have the vision of being the best producer in the luxury sports car sector and a new facility, along with the support of our flexible, highly efficient workforce, will enable us to achieve our goal.”
Aston Martin noted that over 500 applications were submitted for the 12 places available in its latest manufacturing apprenticeship scheme.
It will also welcome 14 new graduates to the business in 2014.
Kirner said: “We have confirmed that the coming years will see Aston Martin implementing the biggest investment programme in the 101 year history of the brand, with a plan to inject over GBP500m into the company’s next generation of high performance sports cars.”
Expansion at Aston Martin and the nearby Jaguar Land Rover facility has prompted local authorities to spend several million pounds improving the adjacent junction with the M40 motorway. Hundreds of new workers commuting to the sites now causes tailbacks leading back on to the motorway and a greatly expanded junction is intended to improve traffic flow.
JLR’s own expansion plans have prompted major changes to a local authority plan to build around 3,000 new houses on ‘green field’ land nearby as the initial outline would have used land JLR wants to use to expand its own facilities – including a test track – at Gaydon.
