Aston Martin to build Welsh production facility

Aston Martin is to build its new luxury car at a new south Wales manufacturing facility, creating 750 highly skilled jobs.

The DBX car will be hand-made in a steel-framed super hangar at St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Aston Martin Chief Executive Andy Palmer said the development will include a skills academy, which will make St Athan and the Vale of Glamorgan a centre of excellence.

Work on the factory will start in 2017 and production will begin three years later.

“We have a wealth of craftsmanship here,” said Mr Palmer. “It takes 200 hours to make a car and to do that we need skilled labour and we have got that skilled labour in Wales and that played a big part in our decision.”

Each Aston Martin car is individually styled to the buyer’s specifications. In its 103-year history, the company has only sold just over 70,000 cars.

To continue to survive at the luxury end of the market it has been looking at broadening its range to appeal to younger – and female – customers.

The new DBX car will start off as a petrol vehicle before being developed into a hybrid and all-electric 4×4.

The prototype was unveiled at the Geneva motor show last year and is expected to cost at least £160,000 to buy.

First Minister Carwyn Jones said it was the start of a long-term relationship between Wales and Aston Martin.

“We will work together in building on the strong foundations of our partnership to nurture a prosperous and rewarding future for this iconic company and its skilled workforce in Wales.”