Former RAF Hullavington

[DODGYOLDFART]

Dyson has just announced that he is abandoning the development of his electric car, as he says it cannot possible make money. I seem to remember it was to manufactured at Hullavington. Very sad for the people who will no doubt be looking for new jobs.

[Lyneham Lad]

Dyson has scrapped its electric car project (https://www.bbc.com/news/business-50004184)(BBC News).

[pr00ne]

The factory was going to be in Singapore, R+D and engineering in Hullavington. 523 job losses announced, so I guess that will be Hullavington folk.

[Chugalug2]

I think that a great deal of the research at Hullavington was always going to be in battery development, and the company has stated that will continue. Ergo, Hullavington will continue to do R&D for that purpose. The furure of all electric cars depends upon battery development. If Dyson can get ahead in that they can make far more money from batteries than cars alone. Strikes me that Singapore is the loser here, not Hullavington.

[Union Jack]

The factory was going to be in Singapore, R+D and engineering in Hullavington. 523 job losses announced, so I guess that will be Hullavington folk.

James has also made it clear that he hopes to absorb all those affected within other areas of his organisation.

Jack

[Chris Kebab]

Dyson is an expert in producing overpriced vacuum cleaners (we had one - once, never again); the notion that he could transfer that expertise to full scale car production was always ludicrous. To bring it back to Mil Aviation - Dyson: "Your ego is writing checks your body can't cash"....

[chevvron]

Dyson is an expert in producing overpriced vacuum cleaners (we had one - once, never again); the notion that he could transfer that expertise to full scale car production was always ludicrous. To bring it back to Mil Aviation - Dyson: "Your ego is writing checks your body can't cash"....
You have to wonder how much profit he made having them manufactured by cheap labour in Singapore (probably from some parts made in China) then charging top prices to retail them here.
I've seen adverts for shoes at 'reasonable' prices saying they are handmade. I used to know the boss of the company which sold these shoes in the UK, mainly by mail order; he was originally their buyer and he made frequent trips to India to source stocks 'handmade' in their sweatshops, mostly using child labour.

[Thai Pom]

No cheap labour in Singapore these days.

[oxenos]

Dyson is an expert in producing overpriced vacuum cleaners (we had one - once, never again);
electric cars depends upon battery development.
We have had Dyson cleaners, both mains and battery. Excellent cleaners, cr@p batteries. Battery lasted just 2 years, and costs £70 to replace.
With the latest model Dyson claims a 15 year battery life, but only offer a 2 year warranty, so we are not convinced.

[Arclite01]

I think all the locals and UK govt brought all the 'electric car and battery' guff and that's why he got the site unopposed. When I was flying there years ago he was making enquiries then about buying it but was always rebuffed as it had a defence use. Once Lyneham closed that was really the endgame for the airfield site though I think as the only real regular visitors were occasional Hercs and helicopter traffic (1 or 2 Harriers too) - gliders and AEF not included.

The question is what happens now ?, does it get sold off and built on or what ? - he's spent a lot of cash there refurbing buildings and so on. I hope he keeps it as a research centre (if it has to stay in his hands).

Very sad - always a very happy station...................

Arc

[Tashengurt]

We have had Dyson cleaners, both mains and battery. Excellent cleaners, cr@p batteries. Battery lasted just 2 years, and costs £70 to replace.
With the latest model Dyson claims a 15 year battery life, but only offer a 2 year warranty, so we are not convinced.

Get yourself a Shark. Excellent cleaners.

[oxenos]

Get yourself a Shark. Excellent cleaners.

Your comment prompted me to look them up. Very mixed reviews. Can't fault Dyson cleaners, apart from the batteries.

Thread drift, what thread drift?