A move that was set in motion some time prior to Spyker placing a bid for Saab has come to fruition today, with Spyker commencing production in Coventry, England.
Spyker Cars said its new 20,000sq ft plant at CPP Manufacturing in Whitley, Coventry, will help it to increase production levels and cut costs.The relocation from Zeewolde in Holland, announced last November, is likely to create around 40 jobs in Coventry, lifting CPP's workforce to 150.
Spyker's founder Victor Muller and chairman Vladimir Antonov visited the Coventry site today with Brendan O'Toole, managing director of CPP.
Capable of turning out five Spyker Aileron supercars each week on one shift, the new plant was described by Mr Muller as a landmark in the car-maker's history.
"This move makes sense on many different levels," he said. "CPP has been producing our body panels for 10 years and we have an extremely close working relationship with the company.
"More than half our components are sourced from the UK, so moving here will bring us considerable efficiency savings, which is vital for a car company of our size."
The BBC has a nice little photo gallery commemorating the occasion, and I've got to say that whilst the bright Spyker interiors left me reaching for my sunglasses a little, it all makes a lot more sense in basic black, a-la the C8 Laviolette LM85.
Dave R tells me that the region has quite a history in terms of vehicle manufacturing, with over 600 different companies - six hundred! - manufacturing vehicles of one sort or another there over the last century.
That's history, though, with only London Taxis International in the area now, and Spyker, of course.
One item of concern though- why is Vladamir still operating in any capacity. I know, I know, he's still chairman. But it really seems odd to have the guy doing any public meetings when all I could turn up on google news last week was how the deal was almost derailed by the Russian mafia. I don't buy any of that crap, in fact, I think he's probably a very cool guy and wish he was still able to maintain some connection to Spyker given his love for autosports, but still, best to keep him out of the spotlight, no?
where Spyker currently also sources a lot of components.
I suspect this is a different type of blog entry like some of your Alfa stories which were pure about your love for that car. Here you post industry news which is kind of off topic to the site.
Well, the owner Spyker Cars (of which VM is the CEO, well yes) has a bid pending and will hopefully close soon. But anyway, the story is about Spyker Cars and has IMHO no impact whatsover on SAAB nor its changing ownership to Spyker soon.
It is good PR for Spyker though.
I like SAAB and I am happy you didn't cover all kind of GM related news during those years when they owned SAAB.
Enjoy!
Whilst I do try and keep on message, this is also a place where I can persue personal motoring interests. Keeps the writing sane. If that's not to your liking, I can always offer a refund on your purchase price ;-)
On as rather uninteresting article on Leftlane about an Insignia OPC with a Buick badge, there is a small hint about the missing engine(IMHO) in the 9-5 Lineup or the next 9-3 Aero engine.
This would be a spiced up version of the current 2.0T of the NG9-5.
END OT
With regard to whether or not the story's on topic, it's clearly not.... has nothing to do with Saab at all.
... but as to whether or not it's of interest I give it a double thumbs up and 101% approval. Nice to see a break in story content every now and again, and the connection to Saab is clearly strong, seeing as the man with the pin-stripe suit has just saved our little company.
Victor must be busy these days.
It was different with Koenigsegg for some reason. As if they were the destined, logical new owner of Saab (as far as unprobable, small niche carmakers go) being Swedish, aircraft-inspired (HQ in an old fighter hangar). Not much emotional connection, actually. Not in a visceral way. Maybe that was a reflection of CvK's persona ?
But with Spyker, it's a whole different feeling. There's a glam factor to Spyker and VM, but not in a silly, sophomoric, "compensate-for-small-appendage" sort of way. Spyker comes across as classy, old-world romantic, passionate way but still with a decidedly built-with-purpose sort of business-like focus.
Like I said, I'm still in a bit of shellshock. After 6 months of roller-coaster drama, the final sale came as a much needed yet too-sudden relief.
Time to prepare for the Olympics !
Other websites like engadget and autoblog have a way to organize posts so people can see a "Apple free" or "Toyota recall free" site. Maybe there is a way on wordpress to not see Spyker tagged posts? A little unnecessary, but I get it for the die hards.
Well said, Jeff !!
BBQ leftovers on toasted sandwiches.....SW :-)
A Comedian in Trollhattan just talked about Trollhattan in his show as:
"S P Y K E R V I L L E "
Good one!
I think Spyker IS a part of our lives now and don't mind reading a little bit..... plus.. If I don't like the article.. I simply don't read or post to it... Simple.
I do enjoy the SAAB only stuff.... but i also understand variety is good so long as it remains within the Saab world somehow....
If Swade was to start posting about Ford Flex, Vintage YUGO support convoys, his addiction to chocolate covered gummi bears and other stuff.... well, I might get bored, I might skip a few days of visiting, but this is still by far my most read, most enjoyed website of all time!
Spykers, like Saabs, kind of have to grow on you. At first I wasn't overly impressed with the Spyker styling, but after a while it dawned on my that it is really a very understated, classical design. I would almost go as far as saying that they are now being produced in the country of their design roots.
I still think that the dash belongs in a motorboat, though, but that's easily fixed with a can of spray paint.