Aston Martin's new Welsh factory will build its first-ever SUV

By Stephen Edelstein Published December 14, 2016

Big changes are underway at Aston Martin. For what is likely the first time in its 103-year history, the iconic British automaker will operate two factories at once. The second factory, which will start construction soon, will build Aston’s first-ever SUV.

After looking into 20 global locations, Aston announced in February that the new factory would be located in St. Athan, Wales. Now that all of the relevant contracts have been signed, Aston is ready to begin construction at the site, which was previously a large Royal Air Force (RAF) base, and is currently managed by the U.K. Ministry of Defence.

Recommended Videos

Aston hopes to begin production of its SUV at the St. Athan facility in 2019. Over the summer, the company started a recruiting drive for 750 new employees to staff the factory, and some are already training at Aston’s existing factory in Gaydon, England. The automaker also awarded a contract for initial construction work to Welsh firm TRJ Contracting.

This work will include construction of the customer and staff reception areas, offices, and an employee restaurant. This comprises “Phase I” of the project, according to Aston. “Phase II” will involve repurposing three “Super Hangars” from the old RAF base to house the actual assembly line and related facilities.

The SUV that will be built in Wales is expected to be based on the DBX concept that first appeared at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. While the concept had an electric powertrain, it’s possible Aston will offer a gasoline engine as well. Like other high-end automakers, Aston hopes to cash in on the current popularity of SUVs and significantly expand its sales volumes. The company previously said it expects 90 percent of SUV production at St. Athan to be exported, with most vehicles going to the U.S. and China.

Meanwhile, Aston plans to grow production at its existing Gaydon factory, which builds all of the automaker’s current sports cars. Aston hopes to be building 7,000 cars a year there by 2020. That will include a new electric version of the Rapide called the RapidE, which is set to start production in 2018.

Topics

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Cars

Waymo lays groundwork for robotaxi revolution

A Waymo car production line.

In recent years, Waymo has been edging toward its long-held goal of revolutionizing urban transportation by deploying a fully autonomous, scalable, and sustainable ride-hailing service.

The Alphabet-owned company has just taken another step in that direction with the opening of a new vehicle factory in Metro Phoenix, Arizona, in partnership with automaker Magna.

Cars

Ram resurrects 1500 Express trim as an affordable option

ram 1500 express return affordable 2026

Ram is revving up excitement with the return of an old favorite—the 2026 Ram 1500 Express. Reintroduced as a more affordable option in the full-size truck lineup, the Express trim brings back a combination of rugged style, respectable performance, and most importantly, a price tag that won’t send buyers running for the hills.

Starting at $41,105 for the base Quad Cab configuration (and just under $45,000 for the Crew Cab), the new Express offers a budget-friendly alternative in a market where full-size trucks can easily cross the $60,000 mark.

Cars

Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?

jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii 4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.