Automotive delegates gathered in Southampton on June 26th for the official opening ceremony of CAT UK’s new Vehicle Processing Centre presided over by Roland Bouchara, Renault UK’s Managing Director and CAT Group CEO, Alejandro Forbes.

Following the much-discussed downturn in the automotive sector, CAT Group has invested over €1 Million (£800k) in these facilities and views this event as a real opportunity for future growth and a key component in its drive to become the undisputed leader in the automotive logistics industry.

CAT Southampton is designed to produce over 100,000 new vehicles each year through its bespoke facilities in Southampton Docks. The event included a tour of the new facilities by many industry key players and the opportunity to view the entire vehicle process (the journey new vehicles take when arriving at CAT Southampton until delivery to dealerships) on an “up close and personal” basis.

CAT Group CEO Alejandro Forbes said that this opening is a demonstration of CAT Group’s willingness to become the undisputed leader of its industry in the coming years. “We’re investing for the future in Southampton. This new centre will provide the highest level of quality and services in the market for our customers”

Managing Director Stuart Warren said he couldn’t be happier that this transition was taking place in the Port of Southampton as it maintains the long relationship CAT UK has had with the town, in fact since it’s inception in 1987.

“Southampton is an exceptional location for our imports from Europe. Our team there has undergone an enormous transformation in organisation, numbers and culture in the last year, and we are now further building the multi-skilled flexible workforce we need for the future. The new facilities and resources are perfectly positioned to meet the exacting and flexible needs of vehicle manufacturers” he said.