What's all this about?
Aston Martin Lagonda has announced two additions to its UK site operations: the first is the Aston Martin Test and Development Centre at Silverstone; while, secondly, the company has also opened a central London office for meetings and events. The big news is the test centre at Silverstone.
Hasn't Aston been busy expanding in the UK recently?
Yes, in 2016 it announced a second manufacturing facility at St Athan, Wales, which will build the company's forthcoming SUV in late 2019. And with the addition of Silverstone and London, Aston will operate out of ten locations across the UK and, by the end of 2022, will employ 5,000 people.
Can I hear from some of the Aston team?
Yes, let's start with Dr Andy Palmer, Aston Martin's president and CEO, who said: "The company is now investing for growth across the Aston Martin and Lagonda brands. I am particularly pleased that we can now call Silverstone home for dynamic testing and development.
"Aston Martin will soon become one of the leading automotive employers in the UK. Specifically, we are currently one of the largest automotive recruiters in the UK, investing approximately 10 per cent of the total automotive investments in the UK, creating exciting new opportunities across engineering, design, manufacturing and commercial operations."
Anyone else from Aston got anything they'd like to share?
Matt Becker, the chief of Vehicle Attribute Engineering, added: "Every true performance car company needs a reference circuit and I can think of none more suitable than Silverstone. It is the perfect location to develop the next generation of Aston Martins."
And what about Silverstone itself?
Stuart Pringle, managing director of Silverstone, said: "Automotive brand centres have always been a big part of Silverstone's diversification plans and I am delighted to be in a position to announce that Aston Martin have chosen Silverstone as the location to open their new testing and development centre. Our two brands have such a rich British motorsport heritage and I look forward to working closely with the team at Aston Martin to build on our relationship and ensure the partnership helps deliver on key business objectives for both parties."
Matt Robinson - 25 Jun 2018