Aston Martin Begins Work on Factory Where DBX SUV Will be Built

Aston Martin has begun work on its new St. Athan manufacturing facility where it will build the DBX crossover from 2019.

The St. Athan site consists of three ‘Super Hangars’ that were formerly owned by the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence. The hangars will be converted into a production facility by local Welsh construction firm TRJ Ltd. before production of Aston Martin’s first-ever crossover begins there in about two years’ time. The first phase of the project has already been completed by TRJ and with the start of Phase 2, the site will truly begin to take shape.

“This is yet another step on our journey in Wales, with the facility now starting to take shape,” Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer said in a statement. “TRJ have proven themselves during ‘Phase 1’ and we look forward to working with them over the course of this next phase of the project.”

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In addition to serving as the DBX’s production site, the St. Athan facility will also aid Aston Martin in its push to bring more hybrid and electric vehicles to market. The automaker’s first pure electric model, the 1,000 horsepower RapidE, is due in 2019 and will be succeeded by a number of other electrified vehicles including a DBX EV. Aston is also gearing up to launch its new V8 Vantage later this year and the Vanquish S in early 2018. Don’t forget the insane Valkyrie hypercar, either. Indeed, it’s busy times over at Aston’s HQ.