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Aston Martin has opened a new design center
By Yoann Besnard on 12 December 2007 | 
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Aston Martin has opened is new design center in Gaydon in a move to be more independent from the former owner Ford and reach new markets.
The new design center is part of the ambitious plan set to expand sales globally, especially in emerging markets. It will allow the car maker to design future cars quickly without depending on exterior help and will also be helpful in reducing time development at a time when testing have been lengthened since the company has left the Ford Premier Automotive Group. Likewise if Ford still owns a share in the British carmaker, it is rumoured that Aston in in talks with Mercedes-Benz to share platforms.
In an interview, CEO Dr.Ulrich Benz also said he wants to increase the Gaydon factory's output to 7,000 vehicles in order to decrease waiting list time. The latest model, the DBS has already been sold at 1,500 units which represents 5 years of production at eh current pace of 300 cars per year. If the British brand wants to increase its sales in emerging market like China or India, it certainly needs more production capacity. It has already planned to outsource the Rapide model's production to an European coachbuilder.
