Caterham production on the rise
July 9, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Caterham has announced an increase in production – and staff – to cope with the added demand placed by mounting backorders for its popular Seven model.
The firm recently received pan-European homologation for the Seven, which granted it permission to sell the car in several new European markets, and as such production will grow by around 10 per cent (to some 420 units a year).
“When we saw the first signs of sales activity stalling last year, we cut our cloth accordingly in terms of resource and costs,” said Ansar Ali, managing director, Caterham Cars. “I’ve always worked on the basis that I’d rather face the problem of how to build more cars, than the problem of how to sell them, so it’s gratifying to now be manning back up to cope with the extra demand.”
International sales have been helped by favourable exchange rates and Caterham is now firmly established in France, Italy, Germany and Japan.
The firm’s order-book is currently full until mid-October.
Print it: 
If I was iafter a lightweight open top single-seater I would go for an Aerial Atom.
Sorry guys, at the risk of incurring multiple negative votes I got to admit that in my opinion this is one of the ugliest cars I’ve ever seen.
Well, I suppose that people need something to cheer them up in these times. I think that if I was buying a car this simple though, despite it being a different class, Id rather an Elise.
I think it looks great, espcially with that colour combination.
In my opinion it’s nice that this kind of car is produced in our present time, it’s actually great that vintage cars are being introduced once again. Is it really vintage? :)
Sam R, I won’t vote you down for thinking it’s ugly…. it was never designed to be pretty. The original idea behind the Seven (lotus was the original) was to supply a vehicle that had teh bare neccesitys for registration as a daily driver, whilst being a thinly disguised race car. Back in those days just about anyone could partake in track days and or hill climbs every weekend, but not everyone could afford two cars.
Caterham (and Westfield) have essentially kept the vision alive whilst improving the breed 100 fold…
Go the little Elfin clubman anyday, the local product is better.
Yes Will, whatever. Driven them all have you so you could come up with that conclusion?
Agree Frontman, this was not meant to be pretty. Classic Colin Chapman design copied the world over. For those who don’t know (and there will be plenty because it’s not Australian) Colin Chapman started Lotus.
*****PRIMO!*****
One of my favorite cars.
Still rather the Aussie Elfin T5.
All good here!
Cheers
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