Rolls-Royce today welcomed members of German Industry UK (GIUK) and the Head of Economic Affairs Department of the German Embassy , First Counsellor Mrs Anne Ruth Herkes to its award-winning manufacturing plant and head office at Goodwood near Chichester. Following a welcome by Ian Robertson, Chairman and Chief Executive, members of the GIUK - including senior representatives from Abus, Brose, Carl Zeiss, Daimler Chrysler, Degussa, MAN, Mahle, Miele and Wuerth - toured the plant to see how the Phantom is hand built.
“It has been a pleasure to welcome Mrs Herkes and German Industry UK to the Rolls-Royce plant today,” said Ian Robertson. “Here at Rolls-Royce our aim is to build a sustainable company, not simply in terms of the environment, but as a long term investor in our employees and the local community. We have been delighted by the success of our business, particularly as 90 per cent of our production is sold internationally and so generates export revenue for UK plc.”
Dr Bernd Atenstaedt, Chief Executive of German Industry UK said; “We are delighted to be here today to see at first hand how one of the best cars in the world is being made. British engineering, particularly in the automotive industry, is highly regarded and in cooperation with German engineering, unbeatable.”
The facility at Goodwood was opened in January 2003, with the launch of the new Phantom, after Rolls-Royce became part of the BMW Group. The Phantom has since proved a great sales success, rapidly rising to market leadership, worldwide, within its sector.
Each car is hand-built by a highly skilled workforce at the Goodwood plant. The majority of the workforce is British, although there are 14 other nationalities on site. A total of 500 new jobs were created with the establishment of the Rolls-Royce facilities.
The second model to be launched at Goodwood was the Phantom with extended wheel base, in November 2005. A new convertible will follow in 2007.
“It has been a pleasure to welcome Mrs Herkes and German Industry UK to the Rolls-Royce plant today,” said Ian Robertson. “Here at Rolls-Royce our aim is to build a sustainable company, not simply in terms of the environment, but as a long term investor in our employees and the local community. We have been delighted by the success of our business, particularly as 90 per cent of our production is sold internationally and so generates export revenue for UK plc.”
Dr Bernd Atenstaedt, Chief Executive of German Industry UK said; “We are delighted to be here today to see at first hand how one of the best cars in the world is being made. British engineering, particularly in the automotive industry, is highly regarded and in cooperation with German engineering, unbeatable.”
The facility at Goodwood was opened in January 2003, with the launch of the new Phantom, after Rolls-Royce became part of the BMW Group. The Phantom has since proved a great sales success, rapidly rising to market leadership, worldwide, within its sector.
Each car is hand-built by a highly skilled workforce at the Goodwood plant. The majority of the workforce is British, although there are 14 other nationalities on site. A total of 500 new jobs were created with the establishment of the Rolls-Royce facilities.
The second model to be launched at Goodwood was the Phantom with extended wheel base, in November 2005. A new convertible will follow in 2007.
