Corporate Business

Aston Martin announced today that its second major UK manufacturing facility will become the brand’s center for electrification and the production home of the Lagonda brand, the world’s first zero-emission luxury marque. The Rapide E will be built in Wales when production commences in 2019. Aston Martin’s first all-electric production model creates a highly-desirable electric vehicle with the levels of performance expected of an Aston Martin. St Athan has also been named as the home of Lagonda production. As the world’s first luxury marque exclusively driven by zero emission powertrain technologies, Lagonda heralds the beginning of a new range of luxury vehicles that will commence production in 2021. The ‘Lagonda Vision Concept’, revealed at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show hints at the bold design language that could be seen in future Lagonda products in as little as three years.

Aston Martin Works’ new Heritage satellite showroom in the heart of London’s Mayfair is now open for business. Situated with the Aston Martin Brand Experience Centre at No.8 Dover Street, the Works Heritage showroom is a convenient destination for customers interested in acquiring a heritage model or learning about the restoration services available at Aston Martin Works Service in Newport Pagnell. Paul Spires, President of Aston Martin Works, said: The expansion of our Heritage showroom activity into Central London enables us to engage with our customers in the location where they work and live their lifestyle. It also supports the international appeal and invigorated interest in Aston Martin Heritage cars, allowing us to deliver a personal service to customers visiting the UK.

Aston Martin welcomed its biggest ever intake of apprentices and graduates this week, all ready to start work for the world’s fastest-growing auto brand. With 50 apprentices and 26 graduates reporting for duty at Aston Martin’s Global Headquarters at Gaydon in Warwickshire, this investment in the future workforce underlines the manufacturer’s focus on remaining a competitive and agile business for many years to come. Dr. Andy Palmer, Aston Martin President and Chief Executive Officer, who started his own career as an apprentice, was at Gaydon to greet the new starters.

British firm JD Classics, a dealer of classic cars but also an expert restorer and organizer of classic racing events, entered administration last Friday. This is the UK equivalent process to entering bankruptcy protection here in the US. And yes, this is the same JD Classics firm the only just a few months ago hired as its CEO former Lotus CEO, Jean-Marc Gales.

Group Lotus plc is delighted to announce the appointment of Phil Popham as Senior Vice-President – Commercial Operations for Group Lotus and CEO – Lotus Sports Cars, effective from the first of October, 2018. Phil will report to Group Lotus plc CEO, Mr. Feng Qingfeng. Popham joins Lotus from Sunseeker International where he held the role of CEO for four years. Prior to Sunseeker, he was part of the Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) executive team for nine years with global responsibility for commercial operations. The arrival of Phil Popham is the latest in a series of high-level appointments at Lotus, from both the global automotive industry and from within Lotus. A new business and operating structure has been put in place and the Lotus business is now set for the next stage of its future growth and global expansion. Mr. […]

A bespoke full-size clay model of the Jaguar I-PACE, created by the brand’s world-renowned designer Ian Callum, is to take center stage at Scotland’s first dedicated design museum. The I-PACE exhibit will be unveiled on 15 September at the grand opening of the new V&A Design Museum in Dundee, which highlights the global achievements of Scottish designers past and present. The clay model shows the painstaking and elaborate design process behind the firm’s first all-electric vehicle as well as the steps followed to create all new Jaguars.

Rolls-Royce has announced that Martin Fritsches has been appointed as President, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars North America from the first of September 2018. Fritsches joined Rolls-Royce earlier this year as Vice President of Sales for the Americas region, responsible for sales planning and operations, including the marque’s 44 dealers in the Americas.

Jaguar Land Rover today reported total worldwide retail sales of 36,629 vehicles in August 2018, down 4.9% year on year. August 2018 Change year-on-year Jan – Aug 2018 Change year-on-year Jaguar – Land Rover 36,629 (4.9)% 390,992 (2.6)% Jaguar 11,802 7.7% 116,849 (1.9)% Land Rover 24,827 (9.9)% 274,143 (2.9)% Retail sales were up in the UK (64.9%), Overseas markets (20.2%) and North America (2.5%), with Europe slightly below last year (3.1%), waiting for last WLTP certifications. The China market remains unsettled following tariff changes and trade tensions (down 38.1%), although the reduction in duty from 25% to 15% is expected to be beneficial over the full year. UK sales were boosted by a catch up in WLTP certification of vehicles with only 2 derivatives remaining to be certified in September.

Led by the release of the new MG3, MG Motor UK continues to go from strength-to-strength in 2018 by once again announcing record new car sales. The August sales results, taken from the latest SMMT market report, show that MG has achieved an impressive 5,685 new car registrations so far in 2018, over 1,000 units more than it achieved in the whole of 2017. This significant increase in new car registrations amounts to an increase of 129% compared with the same period in 2017.

The latest in a series of high profile appointments, Group Lotus is pleased to announce that Uday Senapati joins the iconic British sports car marque. Uday joins Lotus as the company undergoes the next stage of its growth and return to prominence, under the leadership of Group Lotus’ Chief Executive Officer, Feng Qingfeng. Further confirming the Norfolk brand’s commitment to excellence, and attracting new talent to Hethel. Well-known and respected within the industry, Uday will take responsibility for Product Strategy and Management for all current and future product lines, including digital products and services.

Jaguar Land Rover reported total worldwide retail sales of 36,144 vehicles in July 2018, down 21.6% year on year, primarily reflecting transitional issues in certain markets. July2018 Changeyear-on-year Jan – July 2018 Changeyear-on-year JaguarLand Rover 36,144 (21.6)% 354,363 (2.4)% Jaguar 10,992 (15.2)% 105,047 (2.9)% Land Rover 25,152 (24.0)% 249,316 (2.2)% Retails for July were down in China (46.9%), reflecting continued market volatility in the first month of the duty change as well as trade tensions. Sales were also down in Europe (26.5%) and the UK (18.3%), impacted by the industry-wide issue of delays in WLTP certification of 2019 model year vehicles. Jaguar Land Rover has made good progress however and all its vehicles are certified or expected to be shortly. Retail sales were also down in North America (9.5%), resulting from softer industry volumes (down more than 3%) combined with […]

The Morgan Motor Company are excited to collaborate on two concept bicycles with a fellow British company, Pashley Cycles. Founded in 1926, Pashley Cycles are the longest established British cycle manufacturer, famed the world over for their range of traditionally built and impeccably styled cycles. With centuries of combined heritage, craftsmanship and passion for their product, Pashley and Morgan are two “like-minded” brands just waiting for the perfect opportunity to collaborate. Launching in this weekend at Morgan’s much-anticipated Thrill on the Hill, the Pashley-Morgan range will include two new bikes, both of which will be produced at Pashley’s Stratford-upon-Avon factory. The bicycles have a stylish hand-crafted frame which features a new curved top tube design. It is fillet brazed using Reynolds 631 tubing and incorporates a custom formed top tube, frame mounted race plate, distinctive S-bend seat stays and unique […]

MG Motor UK has added five new partners to its dealer network as it continues to drive towards its goal of establishing a full national network of 120 sites by 2020. The latest additions to the MG network are Crayford & Abbs in north Norfolk, Thomas & Davies in Merthyr Tydfil, McMillan Motors in Greenock, Jermyn & Sons in Seaford, East Sussex and FG Barnes in Canterbury. All five sites joined MG’s rapidly-growing network in July, taking MG’s dealership network up to a total of 81 sites.

MG Motor UK has announced record new car registrations as the iconic British brand continues to go from strength-to-strength in the UK market. The July sales results, taken from the latest SMMT market report, show that MG has achieved an impressive 5,099 new car registrations so far in 2018, over 600 cars more than it achieved in the whole of 2017. This significant increase in new car registrations amounts to an increase of 122% compared with the same period in 2017.

Jaguar Land Rover Automotive plc, the UK’s largest vehicle manufacturer, today reported its financial results for the three-month period ending 30 June 2018. Retail sales for the quarter reached 145,510 vehicles, up 5.9% on the previous year. The increase reflects growing sales of the new Range Rover Velar, Range Rover Sport, Land Rover Discovery and Jaguar E-PACE. However, wholesales (including China JV) were 13,950 units lower than retails, primarily reflecting lower wholesales in China in advance of the reduction in import duties from 25% to 10% on 1 July and production scheduling to de-stock inventories in other markets.

Celebrating one of the most important countries in its racing and family history, Brabham Automotive is teaming up with Michelin to debut the sensational Brabham BT62 in the United States, with a fitting tribute to American hero and ex-Brabham Formula 1 winner, Dan Gurney, at this year’s Monterey Car Week. Fresh from its public dynamic launch in Europe at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Brabham BT62 is set to win the hearts and minds of the American public at a series of prestigious events on the Monterey Peninsula. Working in conjunction with technical partner Michelin, the car will be center stage on the tire manufacturer’s stand at Laguna Seca on Friday, August 24 and Sunday, August 26. Over the week the car will also appear McCall’s Motorworks Revival on Wednesday, August 22, and at the Exotics on Cannery Row […]

Jaguar Land Rover reported July 2018 US sales: Land Rover had its best ever July sales month with 6,209 units, an increase of five percent from 5,915 in July 2017; Jaguar sales were 1,880 units, a 41 percent decrease from 3,166 units in July 2017, Jaguar sales were 1,880 units, a 41 percent decrease from 3,166 units in July 2017, due to industry sales trends. Jaguar Land Rover total July US sales reached 8,089 units, an 11 percent decrease from 9,081 units in July 2017. We’re pleased to see Land Rover finish July with another record–setting sales month. The popularity of our new SUVs, the Range Rover Velar, Land Rover Discovery and Jaguar F-PACE continue to drive sales momentum and will be joined by the highly anticipated I-PACE later this year. — Joe Eberhardt, President and CEO, Jaguar Land Rover North […]

Aston Martin, the producer of highly desirable luxury handcrafted sports cars, today announced it has completed the second phase of its new car assembly plant at St Athan, in South Wales. Aston Martin’s Board of Directors held their first meeting in St Athan to mark the completion of building work at the facility, which involves the conversion of three super hangars at the former Ministry of Defence site into a state-of-the-art vehicle assembly facility.