Caterham reveals plans for new state-of-the-art factory | GRR
Caterham is celebrating its 50th birthday in 2023, and by way of marking the occasion, it’s decided to reward itself with quite an extravagant present – a brand new home.
The evergreen manufacturer of the Seven and Super Seven has revealed plans to open a new manufacturing facility right around the corner from its current home in Dartford, Kent, on a newly developed nine-acre industrial park. It’s part of a ‘multi-million’ pound-investment from its still relatively new owner, the Japanese firm VT Holdings.
Caterham currently makes nine variations of its iconic lightweight sportscar across road and track variants, some available with the choice of a ‘Standard’ or slightly longer and wider ‘Large’ chassis. And with the new facility, perhaps we can expect to see further evolutions of the product. After all, the new factory is close enough to the old one for Caterham to retain its current workforce, but importantly, expand it. In fact, the marque is targeting a 50 per cent increase in production, to around 750 cars per year.
It’s not just the cars that will benefit from the new facility though. Caterham says it plans for customers to enjoy the experience as well, with factory tours, special events and also the possibility for vehicle handovers, straight off the production line.
Caterham has called Dartford home since 1987, after moving 25 miles around the M25 from its original home in the town of Caterham in Surrey. This is where, 50 years ago this year, Graham Nearn purchased the rights to continue building Colin Chapman’s design for the Seven after it was deemed surplus to requirements at Lotus.
Can we expect more birthday celebrations throughout 2023? Some special edition cars, perhaps? Caterham’s 50th doesn’t officially happen until August.