Aston Martin DBX goes into production at new plant

Aston Martin has started making cars at its second UK manufacturing plant in St Athan, Wales.

Pre-production models of the luxury British car maker’s first SUV, the Aston Martin DBX, are already rolling off the production line, and St Athan is on target to go into full production in the first half of 2020.

The 90-acre, former Ministry of Defence site was announced as the second UK plant for Aston Martin Lagonda in early 2016 and since then the whole site, including three ‘Super Hangars’, has been transformed into a modern manufacturing facility for the company’s hand-crafted cars.

Forming part of Aston Martin’s continued investment in the UK, the opening of St Athan has so far created 200 jobs and is expected to create up to 550 more. Also, as a direct result of this investment, a further 3,000 jobs will likely be created across the supply chain and local businesses.

St Athan will be the sole production facility for the Aston Martin DBX which has been created for this fast-growing segment of the luxury market. Last year, it was also named as Aston Martin Lagonda’s “Home of Electrification” and the manufacturing home of the Lagonda brand.

Real world testing of the DBX, which will be unveiled at the end of 2019, began appropriately in the Welsh countryside last year and continues apace. Over the last few months the DBX has been put through its paces in all environments from the Arctic Circle to the unique challenges of the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

“This is an exciting time for Aston Martin Lagonda. Our second luxury manufacturing facility is now producing cars and is ready to go into full production in H1 2020,” said Aston Martin Lagonda President and Group Chief Executive Officer, Andy Palmer.

“Our facilities and manufacturing teams, led by VP and Chief Manufacturing Operations Officer Keith Stanton have done an outstanding job in getting the factory ready almost a year before full production starts, on time and on budget.“