Secretary of State gets hands on with new luxury Aston Martin to be built in Wales
Alun Cairns today saw advanced designs for the new Aston Martin DBX vehicle – to be built in Wales – and dubbed it “an incredible vote of confidence in Welsh manufacturing.”
Secretary of State for Wales, Rt Alun Cairns with Aston Martin CEO Dr Andy Palmer
The Secretary of State for Wales spoke after touring Aston Martin Lagonda’s head office in Gaydon, Warwickshire.
He saw the latest designs for the company’s DBX which is due to be produced at the St Athan “superhanger” site in the Vale of Glamorgan.
In February this year, Aston Martin Lagonda announced that the DBX – a ‘crossover’ sports utility vehicle – would be made at St Athan with the creation of 750 jobs and a further 1,000 in the supply chain and with local businesses. Work on the factory will start in 2017 with vehicle production due to begin three years later.
Mr Cairns said:
The decision by Aston Martin Lagonda to come to Wales was an incredible vote of confidence in Welsh manufacturing.
It shows that Wales is a manufacturing centre of choice for major exporters who want a skilled workforce and easy transport links. I’m glad the Wales Office was able to work with the UK and Welsh Governments to bring this about.
It was hugely impressive to see these stunning vehicles up close and see the exciting plans on the drawing board.
Aston Martin launched the luxury DBX concept at the 85th Geneva International motor show in 2015. The four-wheel drive vehicle combines cutting edge engineering with Aston Martin’s world-renowned design.