Aston Martin is eyeing an ambitious hike in production to 10,000 cars a year after its spin-off from Ford this spring. The number is in Aston’s future business plan, according to well-placed sources, and is being targeted for 2010 — just three years after a new owner takes control.
Critically, the figure is said to be a personal target of Aston boss Ulrich Bez, who has already taken Aston from 1500 cars in 2001 to 7000 last year, and will put Aston on a par with Bentley. The 7000 figure has been achieved, to plan, in the seven years since Bez assumed the chief executive’s position in 2000.
Company officials refuse to discuss the new production plan while Ford is mulling bids for the company, but well-placed industry sources confirm the figure as Aston’s next corporate goal.
“It’s been talked about for a while and discussions have been on-going about how to achieve it. The engineers have the ideas, but until a new owner is found, the plans are on hold,” said the source.
The major challenge for Aston is how to achieve 10,000 units at the new factory in Gaydon, which is already stretched close to its maximum 7000 unit capacity. Production of the DB9 was 2500 last year and the V8 Vantage 4200 units. The 300 balance was Vanquish flagship coupes built at Newport Pagnell, Aston’s old HQ.
At Gaydon the critical section is the alloy-tub assembly section, which is currently working 24 hours a day on three shifts, with no extra capacity possible without further investment.
Among the ideas to add extra capacity are to outsource tub, body-in-white assembly and painting off-site from Gaydon, either to an Aston-owned facility like Newport Pagnell or an outside supplier, or build an extension to Gaydon.
The latter is said to be unpopular because it would detract from the looks of Aston’s brand-new, Cotswold stone-faced Gaydon office and factory. One of the former options is said to be favourite, largely because it would simplify operations at the boutique Gaydon plant.
The move would pave the way for the introduction of the Rapide four-door super-saloon which is currently on ice while a new owner is sought. It would also solve the production source for the Vanquish replacement, which is being developed as a variant of the DB9’s platform.
To hit the 10,000 target, Aston would have to add a further 3000 units of production.This year’s DB9 Bond car spin-off the DBS will add 250 units and the new Vanquish, due on sale around 2010, a further 500 or so.
If the proposed Rapide is given the green light, it should add a further 500 sales, leaving the DB9 and V8 Vantage to increase volume by a further 1750. According to insiders that will come from a better distribution of sales around the world and an increase in the global dealer network from today’s 125 outlets.
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