Friday 20th February 2009

More Delays for Connaught Factory

Welsh assembly step-in to halt plans

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Connaught Type-D Syracuse

British sports car maker Connaught Motor Company faces further delays in its plan to build a new factory in Llanelli, Wales.

Planning permission for the plant has been repeatedly held back since plans were announced back in early 2007. The latest delay, brought about by a directive from the Welsh assembly government, is thought to be due to concerns regarding sewerage and water quality in Llanelli.

The Carmarthenshire council planning committee has expressed broad support for the plans, however cannot grant planning permission after the issuing of this government directive.

Connaught Motor Company, named after the famous racing team of the 1950s, plans to produce a sports car called the Type-D, along with a 300 bhp narrow-angle V10 and a 162bhp hybrid powerplant to go in it. So far only a handful of hand-made prototypes have been assembled, but with the new plant Connaught hope to produce 1,000 cars a year, creating around 200 jobs in the process.

Bodyshells are expected to be produced on the continent and brought in for final assembly at the Welsh plant, which will also produce the innovative engines. It is thought that Connaught will also attempt to sell the hybrid technology that they have developed for the Type-D.

[1000TCR]

A new plant + 200 jobs financed by selling 1000 cars a year? Despite the fact that they won't sell a 1000 a year, how much do they want to gain with every single car?

[madmog]

Hmm must be the only car company in the world right now wanting to invest in a new factory; certainly in the UK. Come on Welsh Assembly get your a&$e into gear and help it happen!

[Wetsuit]

Well, someone's got to be optimistic otherwise we'll all drive Golfs that we can't afford 'cos we are all out of work.

[Strider]

They are already receiving a huge amount of Government support, so overall the tax payers have been very generous. Selling 1000 cars a year does seem very improbable. Have they worked out the true cost of taking the car the final 20% and the same for the engine? And the cost of warranty work?

[cathalm]

I like this project. Th styling if a bit ify arond teh lights, but with a tweak it would be kind of like a British mustang with a unique engine. hope they get it up and running.

[jerrytlr]

why we need to use large amounts of taxpayer's money to build yet more manufacturing capacity - with all the environmental damage that incurs - at a time when there is already massive over capacity in the vehicle manufacturing sector in the UK is beyond me.

Small companies like this need to get more creative wrt their business models - and (for example) rent surplus capacity from existing players in the market (Hethel? Even some of the big boys - this car will not, for example, compete with Mini or any other BMW product, so why not buy some excess capacity at Cowley?!?)

Now I know there are huge issues with the approach - but it really feels like some fresh thinking is required around business models for building low volume niche cars. Otherwise there won't be any, something which I for one would be very sad to see...

Cheers

Jerry

[LewisR]

Can't they use one of the many vacant car plants already in the UK? Ryton probabaly has a few square yards going.

[bencollins]

Getting creative there with the delay excuses.
Im assuming the sewage outlet runs from the styling department.
Away with the fairies.

[sabre]

bencollins said:

Getting creative there with the delay excuses.
Im assuming the sewage outlet runs from the styling department.
Away with the fairies.

Hilarious

It would be great for it to succeed but its needs to be improved in the styling and quality department. The prototype build I saw had a body work finish worse than all the GRP cars around. Most kit cars are superior IMO.
It might be a prototype but it doesnt sell the car well.

As already suggested, things have moved on very rapidly in the car world and they would be better off concentrating on the powerplants and finding existing builders to take it. 2 litre V10 300bhp and compact would fit, for example in a morgan nicely.

[GWADD]

Ryton has been razed to the ground....

Only a huge expanse of nothing left !

[bellof4]

Why bother?
Jensen, Invicta, Marcos, Strathcarron, Noble......
They all go the same way and some even rise from the Phoenix to let happen again

[sprinter885]

This must be about the bravest motor manufacturing proposal in UK (if not elsewhere) at the moment.

I admire the ingenuity of the technology etc (not the styling) but they've really got to get some made & "out there" ...soon...if they have any chance to succeed in present climate.

I won't hold me breath.

[captain jack]

Unless they have full order books (do they?) I can't see this ever happening! It's four years old already!

[anonymous-user]

lovely car..but are the council protesting about the st coming out of there sales claims or the factory.

[cvegas]

Brilliant car that offered something very different to the mass produced herd, but the Welsh really have messed up this opportunity. I bet the guys at Connaught are wishing that they chose somewhere else for their project.

[V8 GRF]

Totally agree that they should support the venture but that car has definately fallen from the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down. It looks like a mix of every Leyland car from the '70/'80s and a plat panel kit car interior. Doomed to failure as it won't sell looking like that IMO, they should use this downtime redesigning the look.

Edited by V8 GRF on Monday 23 February 08:33

[Aowhs102]

I saw it in the flesh about a year ago when it was launched in London, and I thought it looked better then the picture suggests. Although the headlights do look like something stolen from a bugeyed scooby. A real shame they haven't even been given a chance yet...