LONDON: A second British sports car brand has announced that it is to open a factory in south Wales, creating much-needed jobs and giving a boost to the Labour-led devolved government.
TVR, the independent sports car manufacturer, will open a base in Ebbw Vale, 40 miles north of the plant where Aston Martins are to be built in the Vale of Glamorgan.
The TVR investment is expected to create 150 jobs in an area due to be transformed by the building of the £315m Circuit of Wales project, which includes a racetrack and a motor sports centre of excellence.
Last month Aston Martin announced it would build its new DBX crossover model at a plant in St Athan from 2020 after a worldwide search for a new manufacturing facility.
Founded in 1947 in Blackpool, TVR became a leading light in the British niche sports car market, building an international reputation for high-performance vehicles and innovative design.
The current management team acquired the brand in 2013 and has been looking for a base in which to build a new version of the car.
The Welsh first minister, Carwyn Jones, said: “This is yet another fantastic high-profile investment for Wales and a great boost for our automotive sector. TVR is another iconic and much-loved, world-class brand that still commands a strong and loyal international following. I am delighted the next generation of TVRs will proudly bear the label ‘made in Wales’.
“Today’s news follows hot on the heels of the Aston Martin announcement and sends out a strong, clear message that Wales is the location of choice for advanced manufacturing.”
According to the Welsh government, there are more than 150 companies involved in the automotive supply chain, employing 18,000 people and generating more than £3bn for the Welsh economy.
The TVR chairman, Les Edgar, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity both for TVR and the Welsh government. South Wales is becoming a major hub for automotive and motor sport technology and development and I am delighted TVR is investing here.”
Edgar said the company already had enough orders for the new car to keep it busy until the end of 2018, and planned to be making 2,000 vehicles a year by 2022.
The announcement will go down well in Ebbw Vale, where high-quality jobs have been in short supply since the vast steelworks closed a decade ago.
The Circuit of Wales CEO, Martin Whitaker, said: “Today’s news regarding TVR’s production facility in the Ebbw Vale is fantastic news for the region. Paired with Aston Martin’s recent announcement, it reinforces our vision of Ebbw Vale and the south Wales region growing into a cluster of excellence for automotive and related industries.”
