Aston Martin planning “meaningful” job cuts

Posted on 8 Oct 2015 by Callum Bentley

The luxury car maker has announced it will make "meaningful" job cuts as it aims to turn around it's profit issues and expand into the crossover and electric vehicle markets.

The automotive manufacturer suffered massive sales losses following the financial crisis in 2007-8. This prompted the company to appoint new CEO, Andy Palmer, from Nissan where he served as the auto giant’s executive vice president.

Aston Martin's manufacturing facility at Gaydon, Warwickshire
Aston Martin’s manufacturing facility at Gaydon, Warwickshire

According to Reuters, a spokesperson said on Thursday that there would be “a net reduction in the overall workforce at the company”, adding the cuts would be “meaningful” without giving any figures.

The spokesperson did confirm that no production staff jobs would be affected at the company’s Gaydon plant. Of the approximate 2,000 strong workforce, the cuts would more than likely come from office staff.

Following the investment of £200m by its major shareholders earlier this year, Aston Martin is following other auto marques int o the lucrative SUV market.

To accommodate, it plans to open a new production facility, with the location to be announced by the end of the year.

There has been a drive from David Cameron for the site to be located in Wales, however Palmer has hinted at a move to Alabama, where Daimler, a five per cent shareholder in Aston Martin already has a plant producing SUVs for Mercedes.