Tri-Service
Aston Martin To Take Over MoD 'Super Hangars'
Aston Martin will build its new DBX model in three Ministry of Defence hangars in a new factory.
The James Bond carmaker will start construction of the 90-acre facility at St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan in 2017 with production of the 4x4 crossover to start in 2020.
Aston Martin Chief Executive Andy Palmer called it a “momentous day for Wales” as he confirmed the news.
He said: "We have a wealth of craftsmanship here. 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, in Great Britain and that played a big part in our decision."
The all-electric car, which was unveiled at the Geneva motor show last year, is expected to cost at least £160,000.
Picture: Aston Martin
The design team had in mind a driver who was a rich young American woman. The fictitious customer was dubbed Charlotte and seen as "an attractive lady, cool, in her 30s".
Investment in the site is expected to be in the hundreds of millions of pounds and will the create 750 jobs.
The factory will incorporate the Project Red Dragon super-hangar which had cost the UK government £113m.
MoD St Athan base in southern Wales has been home to the RAF No. 4 School of Technical Training throughout its life as well as a major aircraft maintenance unit.
A C130J Hercules aircraft from 47 Sqn RAF Brize Norton on the pan at RAF St Athan
St Athan has also been used to house British Army units, including the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards.
At one time it was home to a large collection of historical aircraft.
It was the designated site for the United Kingdom's new defence training academy, but the programme was cancelled on 19 October 2010.
Cover Image Courtesy: Aston Martin
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