Liverpool’s automotive industry is receiving a major boost with the announcement that the world’s first road-legal, single-seater production car is to be manufactured in the city.
The Mayor of Liverpool has completed a deal with motoring pioneers Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) to move production of its ground breaking, award-winning BAC Mono car to the city. It is set to create almost 60 local, high-end manufacturing jobs by 2014 (including apprenticeships), as well as new regional supply chain opportunities. In a major coup for Liverpool, the deal will see Speke Hall Industrial Estate in South Liverpool become the new home for the specialist, high-performance vehicle.
BAC Mono’s relocation to Liverpool has been made possible by support from the city in facilitating the move and identifying a site. It will further strengthen the city region’s reputation in automotive production, following the success of Jaguar Land Rover’s Halewood plant. BAC Mono has earned a string of accolades, including the coveted BBC Top Gear ‘Stig’s Car of the Year’ award and gained further national recognition when it featured on the show last Sunday (July 7). The BAC Mono will also serve as an ambassador for Liverpool all over the world, with the city brand emblazoned on the car’s body as it takes part in high profile international racing events.
Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said: “This is great news for Liverpool. BAC is an ambitious, visionary company, and its desire to relocate to our city speaks volumes for our business offer. The support we have provided will help create new jobs and apprenticeships and further build our reputation as a city of automotive excellence. The Jaguar Land Rover plant in Halewood has been a real success story for our city in creating jobs in commercial car production – I’m confident that this deal with BAC will prove to be another success, in creating opportunities at the specialist end of the market. BAC Mono is a prestigious brand, and it’s fantastic that motoring and racing enthusiasts alike will know that a car which is turning heads wherever it goes – whether on the road or track – is made in Liverpool.”
BAC expects its new production site in Speke to be up-and-running by the autumn, and projects that it will be producing more than 100 cars a year by 2015. The company is now looking to recruit to its team, with a mixture of jobs on offer for local people. There are employment opportunities for people with experience of working on high-performance and new model launch cars, as well as apprenticeship opportunities. For more information and to apply, please contact BAC at the following address – jobs@bac-mono.com. BAC Ltd is also looking to source components locally and is in talks with a number of suppliers from the region over potential opportunities.
Managing Director at BAC Ltd, Neill Briggs, said: “We are thrilled at our relocation to Liverpool. The city has a rich history in the motor industry and we look forward to adding our own chapter to this success story. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Mayor Anderson and his team for their support. Liverpool is a great place to do business, and with the wealth of highly skilled individuals in the region we believe we are perfectly positioned to take the company to the next level. This expansion and job creation will allow us to meet sales demand around the world, and build on the fantastic interest Mono has received since it was launched. We are all extremely proud to say that ‘Mono is built in Liverpool’”
New Top Gear run rewrites programme’s legendary leaderboard
Last Sunday’s (July 7) edition of BBC Top Gear saw the Stig take the wheel of the BAC Mono for the first time on national TV. The result completely reshaped the programme’s legendary leaderboard, with Mono now second overall to the Pagani Huayra. With a lap time of just 1 minute 14.3 seconds the BAC supercar demonstrated its prowess, beating cars many times its price.
Commented Neil Briggs; “What a result – a very proud achievement for our home-grown machine versus those of established motor manufacturers the world over. It is a credit to our suppliers and everyone who has supported this project since its inception.”
