Caterham is moving, away from the United Kingdom?
New facility from Caterham
Caterham has had a new factory built in Dartford, Kent. Fortunately, then, the brand does remain in the United Kingdom and thus true to its roots. Caterham’s new production facility is a state-of-the-art building, according to the manufacturer. The building is home not only to the brand, but also to Caterham’s production, engineering, motorsports and commercial teams.
Substantial investment
The expansion is possible thanks to a multi-million pound investment by Caterham’s owners, VT Holdings. This move will allow Caterham to increase its annual production capacity by 50% (that’s about 750 new Sevens a year). Doubling production capacity also has a positive effect on waiting times. Waiting a year and a half for a new car was not surprising due to the high demand for the Sevens. Those wait times should decrease significantly in the future.
Large industrial park
The 54,000-square-foot facility – located in a nine-acre industrial park called Dartford X – is in close proximity to the current plant. This will allow the brand to retain all staff. The new building will be fully furnished in the coming months and is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.
Experiences
In the future, Caterham plans to offer a range of experiences at the factory, including factory tours, open days, vehicle transfers to owners and other events.
50 years of Caterham
Bob Laishley, CEO of Caterham, said, “It is fitting that in our 50th anniversary year we are able to invest in new premises to fulfill our ambitions, for the future of the Seven and the brand as a whole. The site not only increases our production capacity, but also allows us to bring our manufacturing capabilities to a modern environment. It will be a fantastic new home for the brand, our employees and our past, present and future customers.”
1973
The southeast of England has been home to Caterham since it began building cars in 1973 in the town of Caterham, Surrey. In 1987, production moved to Kennet Road in Dartford, where the cars have been assembled ever since.
