LONDON: Caterham has announced it will open a brand new manufacturing facility and headquarters later this year as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Still located in Dartford, Kent, the new state-of-the-art building will be home to Caterham’s production, engineering, motorsport and commercial teams. It is about 30km east of London.
The multi million pound investment from owners VT Holdings – one of Japan’s largest retailer groups – will see Caterham increase its production capacity by 50%, meaning around 750 units could be built annually.
The 54,000 sq ft facility is situated in a brand new nine-acre industrial park development called Dartford X.
It is within close proximity to the existing factory, enabling the retention of the skilled workforce who are responsible for hand assembling all cars. The new building will undergo a full fit out in the coming months with completion anticipated towards the end of 2023.
In the future, Caterham plans to offer a range of customer experiences at the site including factory tours, events and vehicle handovers.
“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 Caterham CEO Bob Laishley.
The south-east of England has been home to Caterham since it started building cars in 1973 in the town of Caterham, Surrey. In 1987, production moved to Kennet Road in Dartford where its cars have been assembled ever since.
