More than 100 jobs are at risk at Aston Martin’s St Athan factory in the Vale of Glamorgan as the luxury car maker struggles with US trade tariffs and falling demand from China.
The company, which began production at its Welsh site in 2019, confirmed recruitment consultations were underway but said no final decision had been made on redundancies.
Aston Martin said the planned measures were part of efforts to “strengthen the business in response to the ongoing challenges in the global macroeconomic environment.” The company added that the proposals could impact “contractors, temporary and permanent positions.”
Union leaders described the situation as “devastating.” Unite regional officer Andrew Pearson said the union would begin consultation discussions with the company to mitigate job losses.
The company’s shares have slumped over the past year as it struggles with weaker demand in key international markets. Aston Martin recently warned that it could lose £110 million this year due to the “global macroeconomic environment”.
There have already been job cuts at the St. Athan location this year. In February, Aston Martin confirmed it would cut 170 jobs as part of a wider cost-cutting exercise.
According to BBC Wales, jobs in manufacturing and a number of contractor roles are expected to be hardest hit by the latest round of possible cuts.
The Welsh Government said it was in contact with Aston Martin and stood ready to support affected employees.
“We stand ready to work with the company to offer support to workers following the outcome of the consultation,” a spokesman said.
The St Athan factory, built on the site of a former RAF base, was seen as a key pillar of Aston Martin’s expansion when it opened in 2019. It employs several hundred people and was originally intended to produce the company’s first SUV, the DBX, and future electric models.
Now, as economic pressures mount and global trade tensions rise, the future of this investment – and the jobs it brought to south Wales – is at stake.
