Aston Martin Launches Plant Expansion, Product Initiative

Aston Martin begins a £20 million ($33.4 million) factory expansion program as the British luxury-sports-car maker gears up for its next-generation models.

The development plan includes the creation of a new chassis and pilot-build facility, new offices and an extension of the parts and logistics storage area. The new facilities will cover an extra 107,639 sq.-ft. (10,000 sq.-m). The major development work is due to be completed in 2015.

“We have confirmed that the coming years will see Aston Martin implementing the biggest investment program in the 101-year history of the brand, with a plan to inject over £500 million ($835.5 million) into the company’s next generation of high-performance sports cars,” Aston Martin Chief Financial Officer Hanno Kirner says in a statement.

Aston Martin is embarking on a recruitment drive with about 250 jobs in engineering, manufacturing and commercial functions being created over the next few months at its state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Gaydon, Warwickshire, 90 miles (145 km) northwest of London.

Manufacturing Operations Director Keith Stanton says the development will allow the company to streamline and finesse its manufacturing processes, making it leaner and 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,” Stanton says in a statement.

Aston Martin Design Director Marek Reichman says the announcement adds important detail to the company’s plans “and underlines our wholehearted commitment to continue to design and develop the world’s most iconic sports cars through investment in numerous areas of design, engineering, manufacturing and technology.”