26-02-2025
This Tiny British Sports Car Maker Is Opening a Factory in the USA
We've probably all dreamed of owning a classic British sports car at times, but our collective patience for oil leaks often runs thin. But what if you could have all that MG charm without the headaches — or, for that matter, the oil? For the last eight years, RBW Electric Cars has been pioneering a way to make that idea a reality — and now, U.S. buyers are set to have a more direct line to the handmade EVs, because RBW is expanding its manufacturing facilities to Virginia.
Owned and operated by Peter Swain and his family, RBW EV is set to open its new Danville, Virginia, factory in September, after an investment of more than $8 million. The decision comes less than a year after Swain revealed a fleet of left-hand-drive, North America-aimed MG-esque machines at the 2024 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
"This facility will enable RBW to scale production while preserving the craftsmanship and quality that define the brand. To support this transition, RBW has already been training U.S. operatives at its UK facility," Swain said. "RBW knew we needed a U.S. location to support U.S. sales growth and were busily considering options."
The choice of Virginia wasn't by happenstance. Swain told that the state was a natural choice because of its established manufacturing ecosystem, highly skilled workforce, and strategic location for distribution across the U.S. The effect on the local economy will be small but meaningful, as the factory is expected create up to 144 jobs.
A number of local grants will help RBW construct its coming factory, but Swain said that the decision to come Stateside was about more than just increasing production numbers. Instead, the British EV manufacturer said he wants to ingratiate his company with Americans and make good on the potential cost-reduction benefits of U.S. manufacturing. (Indeed, an all-electric, U.K.-built recreational roadster wouldn't be the first choice for many domestic customers.)
This is doubly true under the Trump administration, which has claimed it will levy a 25% tariff on any foreign imported cars starting in April. While RBW's electrified sports cars aren't likely to be anyone's only mode of transportation, leisure buyers would likely be put off by a 25% increase on the already expensive models: The Roadster edition starts at $139,000, while the incoming GT model will start at $151,000, meaning a 25% increase would add $34,750 and $37,750, respectively.
That's not to say these prices aren't for good reason. Swain says it takes more thabn 500 hours of time to hand-build their EV sports cars, especially considering that RBW builds its battery system from the ground up. OEM-compliant safety features, a modular powertrain with custom power and charging management software, plus specially tuned suspension are all included in the six-figure cost. For your hundreds of thousands of dollars, RBW provides 150 miles of range, a 90-mph top speed, and an 8.0-second sprint from 0-60 mph.
Our own test of the RBW models proved to be splendid, reveling a perfect blend of the MG character and modern driving dynamics. As such, we'll be delighted to see more of these roaming around U.S. roads — so long as the current political hostility to foreign automakers, both legacy and startup alike, doesn't scare off bespoke manufacturers like RBW.
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