Tremendous news emanating from Dartford this morning: Caterham, in its fiftieth year, has announced that it will open a brand new factory and headquarters in 2023 that will see all its operations come under one roof. Described as a ‘state of the art building’, the 54,000 sq ft facility will incorporate production, engineering and even motorsport alongside its commercial teams, and ought to be up and running before the end of the year.
Anyone lucky enough to visit Caterham’s current premises will know that the move is a long time coming. Though it has pluckily made the best of it, the firm outgrew the old factory years ago, and - on the basis that the new site is said to be in ‘close proximity’ to the old venue - you’d imagine the move has been welcomed by its employees. Certainly, it will have been among its new owner’s top priorities: the transition to more space will mean production capacity can increase by as much as 50 per cent.
“It’s fitting that, in our 50th anniversary year, we can invest in new premises to facilitate our ambitions, for the future of the Seven and the brand as a whole,” said Bob Laishley, Caterham CEO. “The site not only increases our production capacity but enables us to advance our manufacturing capabilities into a modern setting. It will be a fantastic new home for the brand, our employees and our customers past, present and future to visit.”
The box-fresh facility is situated on a new industrial park called Dartford X, and will undergo a full fit-out in the coming months. As you might expect, the move represents a multi-million pound investment by its owners, VT Holdings, and in time will allow Caterham to potentially build 750 units a year. Additionally, the manufacturer says it will look to offer a range of customer experiences at the site, including factory tours, events and vehicle handovers. Sunday Service, anyone?
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