Danville: RBW Sports to expand production with $8M manufacturing investment

RBW Sports & Classics, the United Kingdom’s only manufacturer of hand-built electric classic sports cars, will invest $8 million to establish a manufacturing facility in the City of Danville and Pittsylvania County.

The new facility will produce the company’s first left-hand drive RBW EV Roadster and GT models for the U.S. market. The project will create 144 new jobs at the Cane Creek Centre, an industrial park jointly owned by the city and the county.

“Entrepreneurial, innovative companies like RBW Sports & Classics are helping put Virginia on the map for cutting-edge industry and jobs,” Gov. Glenn Youngkin said. “The talented workforce in the region is a perfect fit for RBW Sports & Classics’ plans. The company’s decision to invest in Virginia reflects the strength of our manufacturing sector, the skill of our workers, the quality of life in the Commonwealth, and the strength of our business climate.”

Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick said the expansion is a testament to a top-notch technology and manufacturing workforce in Virginia.

“We are proud to see RBW Sports & Classics add its name to the growing list of high-tech automotive companies in Virginia. Virginia is for innovators,” Merrick said.

Chief Executive Officer of RBW Sports & Classics Peter Swain, who named the company after his children Rose, Becs and Wesley, said that in seven years RBW has established itself as a quality manufacturer of new, yet classic/vintage, electric cars and a designer of EV systems.

“Already selling in Europe, Asia, and even Bermuda, the new facility in Virginia supports RBW’s entry to the U.S. market. We are both excited and honoured to have been offered support from Virginia, and we look forward to making a positive, long-term contribution to the community,” Swain said.

Danville Mayor Alonzo Jones called the announcement a milestone for Danville and Pittsylvania County.

“RBW Sports and Classics’ choice to establish its first U.S. manufacturing facility here highlights the strength of our workforce and the appeal of our region. This investment brings valuable new jobs to our community and introduces us to the exciting and evolving world of electric vehicle manufacturing. We are pleased to welcome RBW and look forward to the opportunities this partnership will create,” Jones said.

RBW Sports & Classics Limited was founded in 2017 with the mission of creating and selling the first classic electric sports car. The company delivered its first cars in the United Kingdom and internationally in 2022 and opened its first factory in the United Kingdom in 2023 registered as a new EV car manufacturer. While the company manufactures electric Roadster and GT models, its patented EV architecture and systems can be installed under other body shells such as the Ford Mustang, Austin Healey and Jaguar E-Type.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Pittsylvania County, the City of Danville, the Danville-Pittsylvania County Regional Industrial Development Authority, and the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance to secure the project for Virginia. Youngkin approved a $500,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Danville-Pittsylvania County with the project. Funding and services to support the company’s employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.