Dyson to make electric cars in Singapore

Written by Peter Walker

23/10/18

Dyson will construct its first advanced automotive manufacturing facility in Singapore, with construction beginning next month and completion scheduled for 2020.

Chief executive Jim Rowan said that while progress is being made on the production facilities at Hullavington Airfield in Wiltshire, “clearly we now need to move quickly towards manufacturing and assembly”.

He continued that the decision of where to make the company’s first electric car is based on supply chains, access to markets and the availability of the expertise.

“Our existing footprint and team in Singapore, combined with the nation’s significant advanced manufacturing expertise, made it a frontrunner,” said Rowan. “Singapore has a comparatively high cost base, but also great technology expertise and focus, it is therefore the right place to make high quality technology loaded machines, and the right place to make our electric vehicle.”

Dyson’s history in Singapore began 11 years ago with a small engineering team developing high speed, digital electric motors. The company now employs 1,100 people there and has made over 50 million high-speed digital motors there.

At the end of August, Dyson detailed a £200 million investment in a self-driving vehicle testing programme at its Hullavington campus.