First Aston to be built abroad?
Aston Martin is looking at building cars outside the UK for the first time in the company’s 93-year history, it has been reported.
The Financial Times claims to have seen documents showing the firm, which prides itself on its ‘Britishness’, is well advanced in a feasibility study that is likely to lead to a new model being built outside the UK.
The papers are said to relate to a bid by one of Aston’s potential partners in the Project to build the four-door Rapide, expected in 2009.
The documents reportedly show that there are several independent car manufacturing and design groups in continental Europe interested in the project.
The FT said the study appears to have been going on in secret for many months.
It is not thought to be in connection with the recent sale of Aston.
The successful bidder is expected to be chosen in the next few weeks and the FT reported that companies in the frame include Pininfarina, the Italian design house; Germany’s Karmann group; Magna of Austria; and Finnish group Valmet.
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