As manufacturers of household appliances with cutting-edge tech and sky-high prices to boot, Dyson would obviously choose a country with similar criteria to launch their new venture.
Today, the British electric appliance pioneer announced that it is indeed planning to build electric cars, and have already approved the construction of its first car manufacturing plant in Singapore that’ll be due for completion in 2020. The company is aiming to add and launch electric vehicles in its product lineup — namely vacuum cleaners, fans and hair dryers — by 2021.
“The decision of where to make our car is complex, based on supply chains, access to markets and the availability of the expertise that will help us achieve our ambitions,” Dyson chief executive Jim Rowan said in a statement.
“Our existing footprint and team in Singapore, combined with the nation’s significant advanced manufacturing expertise, made it a frontrunner. Singapore also offers access to high-growth markets as well as an extensive supply chain and a highly-skilled workforce,” he said.
“Singapore has a comparatively high-cost base, but also great technical 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 already has a couple of facilities in Singapore, including a S$587 million research and development center at Science Park and a production lab in Jurong. Singapore, however, doesn’t have any car-manufacturing plants and is one of the most expensive places to even buy a vehicle.
Even Tesla, the biggest name in the electric vehicle industry, had a bumpy time maintaining a hold in Singapore and pulled its office out of the country just six months after setting up shop here in 2011. The local market just wasn’t ready, perhaps — only five Tesla Roadsters were sold during their time in Singapore.
