Aston Martin will begin building SUVs in Wales in 2019, and the factory where it will make them has just reached a major landmark in its construction. The British firm has now completed Phase I, transforming part of the former MOD site into management offices, administration buildings, customer and staff reception areas… and, critically, the staff canteen.
The second phase is already underway, converting the three super hangars behind the new offices into a cutting-edge manufacturing facility to build Aston’s new SUV (and future Lagonda saloon models).
The builders are on a promise: Phase II will be ready in plenty of time to start making Aston’s first SUV next year.
Aston Martin St Athan: before and after
Aston Martin President and CEO Andy Palmer said: “The St Athan facility is really starting to take shape. With the completion of this first phase, it is another milestone on our journey in Wales, and an important part of Aston Martin’s Second Century Plan.
“The rest of the Aston Martin team and I are excited for when St Athan joins our Gaydon and Newport Pagnell facilities as a centre of hand-crafted manufacturing excellence.”
“Aston Martin’s decision to move to St Athan is a huge coup for Wales,” said Welsh economic secretary Ken Skates, “and it is a genuine testament to the can-do attitude of Welsh Government, and to the reputation, dedication and skills of our workforce.
“Like many people in Wales, I am genuinely excited about Aston Martin beginning production here in Wales next year and the high number of quality direct and indirect jobs that it will bring with it.”
Aston Martin will create 750 new jobs at St Athan in Wales, for which there have been over 3,000 applications during a series of recruitment events. The first employees have actually already started work – right now, they’re based at Aston’s Gaydon factory, learning the ropes by building DB11 sports cars.
