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-   -   Former RAF Hullavington (https://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/626241-former-raf-hullavington.html)

DODGYOLDFART 10th Oct 2019 16:33

Former RAF Hullavington
 
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 10th Oct 2019 18:42

Dyson has scrapped its electric car project

(BBC News).

pr00ne 10th Oct 2019 18:46

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 10th Oct 2019 21:39

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 10th Oct 2019 22:06


Originally Posted by pr00ne (Post 10591371)
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 11th Oct 2019 06:48

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 11th Oct 2019 11:36


Originally Posted by Chris Kebab (Post 10591709)
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 11th Oct 2019 11:57

No cheap labour in Singapore these days.

oxenos 11th Oct 2019 12:29


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 11th Oct 2019 12:48

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 11th Oct 2019 18:43


Originally Posted by oxenos (Post 10591974)
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 11th Oct 2019 22:10


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?


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