Car manufacturer announces temporary halt to operations
ASTON Martin has announced the temporary suspension of all manufacturing operations at its UK plants.
The luxury car manufacturer said it made the decision to fully support the UK Government’s measures on slowing the spread of Covid-19 and to protect the health and safety of its workforce, its suppliers and their families.
The suspension came into force at all sites on
Tuesday night. The car maker has its headquarters in Gaydon, as well as a new manufacturing facility in South Wales.
The St Athan site has been gearing up for the full production of the marques first foray into the SUV market. The DBX will be in made in Wales in a facility that will be Aston Martin’s home of electrification.
The third production trial DBXs have been built at the Vale of Glamorgan facility and final testing to ensure robust quality for customers has continued.
The company said the order book has grown and deliveries are still planned to start in the summer 2020, subject to factories and suppliers returning to normal operations.
At the end of February Aston Martin had warned coronavirus had the potential to impact on demand and supply in China – its fastest growing market – as it posted widening annual losses and confirmed a £500m investor cash call.
Since then the coronavirus has spread worldwide and is classed as a pandemic.
The luxury car maker reported pre-tax losses of £104.3m for 2019, against losses of £68.2m a year earlier.
The period of manufacturing suspension is initially planned to last until April 20, however, the company said it will continue to review the situation and will look to resume operations as soon as it is reasonable to do so.
Aston Martin Lagonda president and group CEO, Dr Andy Palmer said: “It is our responsibility to ensure we do all we can to support the Government’s efforts in slowing the spread of Covid-19 over the coming weeks and, with the health of our amazing workforce front and centre of our minds, we have taken the tough decision to temporarily suspend operations at our sites around the UK.
“I hope and believe that our national fight against this dreadful virus will be successful and as soon as we have the ability we will, of course, return to normal operations.
“In the meantime, I would like to wish everyone associated with this great company good luck, and good health.”
Nearby, Bridgend’s Ford engine plant was due to cease work yesterday and its 1,200 workers will be sent home on basic pay.
Ford says it will look to reopen in mid-April, but the factory is due to close completely in the autumn.
The closure was announced last June.
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