GAYDON, U.K. – A new chapter in Aston Martin car production history opens with the official exchange of contracts between the company and government ministers to build its new plant in Wales.
The new manufacturing facility at St Athan received the green light when Aston Martin President and CEO Andy Palmer met Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones to finalize the sale of the site to the British luxury-car maker.
In February, Aston Martin announced it had chosen St Athan from among 20 potential global locations as its second manufacturing facility as part of a £200 million ($254 million) investment in new products and facilities. A recruitment drive this summer began the search for up to 750 new Aston Martin employees for the new facility – some of whom already have begun training by building the new DB11 at Aston’s Gaydon headquarters.
“The exchanging of this contract, giving us first access to the St Athan facility, is a milestone in our 103-year history,” Palmer says. “Work now starts in earnest to turn our plans into reality.”
Aston Martin already has begun initial work on the St Athan site, which includes the creation of customer and staff reception areas, administration and management offices and an employee cafeteria. A second phase will begin in April, when the automaker will gain access to three Ministry of Defence Super Hangars at the site that will house the new manufacturing facility.
