It will invest more than £300 million so it can build more highly-customised versions of its cars for its super-rich clientele.

The 120-year old British brand came under full control of German carmaker BMW in 2003 and officially opened the site in West Sussex the same year. Rolls Royce says this expansion secures its future in the UK.

Rolls-Royce sold 5,712 cars in 2024, the third highest total in its history.

While that number may seem tiny compared with the millions of cars delivered each year by mainstream manufacturers, Rolls-Royce operates in a highly rarefied market.

The brand said it “does not disclose prices” but it is understood its cheapest model, the Ghost saloon, sells from about £250,000 upwards. Its Cullinan sports utility vehicle and electric Spectre models are thought to start at around £340,000.

In comparison, the average UK house price was £297,000 last year, according to Halifax.

The price of bespoke models can vary widely. When it comes to the most elaborate creations, the final product can cost several times the base price of the car.

There are relatively few buyers who can afford to pay so much for a car. Among those who can are celebrities, who often do not mind flaunting their wealth.

Among them are US stars Kim Kardashian and Nicki Minaj, as well as British rapper Stormzy who was banned from driving after being caught using a mobile phone behind the wheel of his Wraith in London.

‘Holographic paint and one-off artworks’

For some customers, simply owning a Rolls-Royce isn’t exclusive enough. In recent years, the company has increasingly focused on building highly-customised versions of its cars, which can then be sold at even higher prices.

Rolls-Royce describes this strategy as “creating value for clients through individualised products and experiences and providing opportunities for meaningful personal expression”.

In practice, this has included cars with holographic paint, containing one-off artworks, or featuring intricate hand-stitched embroidery. One model, designed as a homage to the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger, includes features made out of solid 18-carat gold.

Rolls-Royce is not alone in this. Other high-end manufacturers such as Bentley, McLaren and Ferrari also offer detailed customisation.

But making individually tailored cars, while profitable, is a labour-intensive process that requires time and space. At the same time, like other manufacturers the company is preparing for a future in which conventional cars will be phased out and replaced by electric models.

Rolls-Royce said the extension of its factory would “create additional space for the increasingly complex and high value bespoke and coach build projects sought by clients who define luxury as something deeply personal to them”.

It added that the plan would “also ready the manufacturing facility for the marque’s transition to an all-battery electric vehicle future”.

The carmaker has already been granted planning permission for the expansion of the Goodwood plant, which was built in 2003 and initially housed 300 workers. There are currently more than 2,500 people working on the site.

“This represents our most substantial financial commitment to Goodwood since its opening,” said the Rolls Royce chief executive, Chris Brownridge.

“It is a significant vote of confidence in the Rolls-Royce marque, securing our future in the UK,” he added.

As a luxury carmaker focused on export markets, Rolls-Royce is insulated from many of the challenges currently facing the wider European motor industry. However, it has been affected by a fall in demand in China, one of its most important markets.

Earlier this year, Mr Brownridge said rising demand for personalised vehicles was helping to offset that decline.

The announcement comes weeks after another famous British brand generated controversy while setting out its own plans for the future.

Jaguar – a part of Jaguar Land Rover – is to be relaunched as an all-electric marque and moved sharply upmarket as part of a major restructuring at the company.

In December, it unveiled a dramatically styled concept car, which together with a new logo and a divisive online advert sparked a social media storm – and generated plenty of column inches.

By BBC News

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The UK Ministry of Defence announced the contract, stating that it represents a significant milestone for both the UK and the trilateral AUKUS program.

The new submarines, referred to as SSN-AUKUS, are expected to become the largest, most advanced, and most powerful attack submarines ever operated by the Royal Navy. They will combine world-leading sensors, design, and weaponry in a single vessel.

The first SSN-AUKUS submarines are scheduled to enter service in the UK in the late 2030s, followed by the first Australian submarines in the early 2040s.

Plans for SSN-AUKUS were unveiled in March by the leaders of Australia, the UK, and the US as part of their efforts to bolster their presence in the Asia Pacific region, particularly countering China’s influence.

These nuclear-powered submarines mark the first time that Washington has shared nuclear-propulsion technology with a country other than the UK.

They represent a significant upgrade to Australia’s current diesel-powered submarine fleet. Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles described the AUKUS deal as “the biggest step forward in our military capability that we’ve had since the end of World War II.”

Under AUKUS, the US also plans to sell up to five of its Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines to Australia in the early 2030s.

Additionally, US and UK submarines will be deployed in Western Australia by 2027 to assist in training Australian crews.

Analysts view the AUKUS program as strengthening deterrence against China’s assertive actions in the Pacific, including its military presence in the South China Sea, where it has constructed military bases on disputed islands and reefs.

The highly stealthy SSNs are capable of operating in contested waters, hunting Chinese warships and submarines, controlling strategic sea lanes, and projecting power with long-range cruise missiles.

China has criticized AUKUS as an illegal act of nuclear proliferation, accusing the participating countries of pursuing their own geopolitical interests to the detriment of regional stability and peace.

China views the pact as a manifestation of a “Cold War mentality” that could potentially lead to an arms race.

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