First images of Aston’s electric dream machine
THESE are the first images of Aston Martin’s new battery electric vehicle the Rapide E, which will start rolling off the production line at its new south Wales factory in 2019
It was confirmed earlier this week that the St Athan factory in the Vale of Glamorgan will become its home of electrification. As well as the allelectric Rapide E, the site will also become the location for its reintroduced Lagonda brand, the first zeroemission model of which is scheduled to enter the market in 2021.
Work on the third and final phase of converting three former RAF hangars at the site is progressing well.
Back in 2016, the company announced that the facility would be the home for its new sports utility vehicle. Production for the vehicle will start late next year.
The £200m-plus investment by Aston Martin at St Athan, which will eventually employ 750 highly-skilled workers, is only its second factory alongside its existing facility in Gaydon in the Midlands.
Aston Martin will be working closely with Williams Advanced Engineering as its development partner for the Rapide E, of which there will be a production run of 155 vehicles.
Its battery will have a range of more than 200 miles, with the luxury car having a top speed of 155mph.
Aston Martin chief executive Andy Palmer said: “Environmental responsibility and sustainability is a global challenge faced by us all.
“As a career automotive engineer, I’m proud that the car industry is leading the way in finding long-term solutions and reducing harmful emissions.
“As Aston Martin’s CEO, I take particular satisfaction working with Williams Advanced Engineering and our other associated technology partners to bring Rapide E to reality.
“As our first all-electric production model, Rapide E will fast-track our knowledge and help us ensure the character and high-performance capabilities of our future EV models and enhance the unique qualities found in all Aston Martins as we know them today.
“Rapide E will also serve as a critical step on our path to relaunching Lagonda as the world’s first zeroemission luxury marque.”
Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said: “This announcement comes as a huge boost to those based at Aston Martin’s new state-ofthe-art manufacturing facility in St Athan, and I’m delighted that the skills and talents of a Welsh workforce will be delivering the highquality products that this flagship British brand is renowned for across the world.
“The UK Government’s mission is to put the country at the forefront of the design and manufacturing of zero-emission vehicles.
“The fact that a company with a reputation that spans the continents is choosing Wales as the centre of excellence for its electrification programme is a ringing endorsement of what our nation has to offer to the automotive sector, and I look forward to seeing the innovation come to life in the months and years ahead.”
FSB Wales policy chair Ben Francis said: “It is really positive news that Aston Martin has decided to extend its operation in south Wales by building the Lagonda car in the Vale of Glamorgan.
“Business confidence in Wales has been at a high this year, and news of this nature exemplifies the fact that Wales, our workers and our businesses have a valuable contribution to make in the development of world-leading technology.
“FSB welcomed the news that Aston Martin would be based in south Wales following a strong commitment from the firm to work with our dynamic Welsh firms to create a local supply base, and we hope that this increased role of Aston Martin in Wales only develops on that commitment to work closely with Welsh businesses.
“However, Wales and the Welsh Government have placed a big vote of confidence in Aston Martin, and it is FSB’s position that the company makes good on its commitment to supporting the development of a local supply chain of indigenous businesses.”
The new factory, for which 150 staff have already been recruited, will support hundreds of jobs in its wider supply chain.
Economy Secretary Ken Skates said: “Our Economic Action Plan is clear about the importance of decarbonisation to the future of our economy, so I am absolutely delighted that Aston Martin has taken the decision to make St Athan its centre for electric vehicle production.”