Electric vehicle manufacturer Arrival has unveiled plans for further expansion.
The pioneering British firm has acquired a new 30,000 sq ft site at Link 9 in Bicester on a 10-year lease which will be converted into a composites production facility. It follows Arrival’s decision to lease Unit 1A, also at Link 9, four months ago, for use as a microfactory in a move that created 50 jobs.
The deal for the new unit was agreed by VSL & Partners and White Commercial for landlord Barings Real Estate Advisers. The new factory space is required after the manufacturer secured a £85 million investment from South Korean car firms Hyundai and Kia earlier this year.
Arrival is creating the world’s first Generation 2 electric vehicle, using unique technologies to create affordable, purpose built electric vehicles for commercial customers. It has trialled prototypes with a wide range of companies including Royal Mail, DHL and DPD. Earlier this year, the firm also received an investment and order for 10,000 vehicles from logistics giant UPS.
Glenn Saint, Chief of Commercial Vehicles at Arrival, said: “We are revolutionising electric vehicles with our Generation 2 solution that means customers can buy a purpose built electric vehicle for the same price or less than a petrol or diesel equivalent. Critical to making this possible is manufacturing in microfactories which can serve the local community and respond rapidly to local demand.”
VSL director Tom Barton, who has previously secured manufacturing facilities for Arrival in Banbury, Oxford and Bicester, said: “Arrival is bucking the current trend and taking big strides to facilitate their ability to meet demand. Their expansion is hugely impressive and a testament to the technology and investment confidence in the business model.”
Headquartered in London with over 800 employees in 5 countries Arrival is vertically integrated, and has created in-house software, components, sustainable materials and modular skateboard platforms.
