Morris heads down electric avenue for comeback of classic

A NEW electric vehicle based on the design of the iconic 1950s Morris van is to be made in a Wales in an investment creating 150 jobs high-skilled jobs.

- SION BARRY

Morris Commercial Ltd is setting up a production facility at the Welsh Government-owned Bro Tathan business park in the Vale of Glamorgan, for its modern-day reimagining of the Morris J-Type - the Morris JE.

The classic van was once a popular sight on British roads and the all-electric version will retain a number of its original features.

With its distinctive design and lightweight recycled carbon fibre monocoque body the new Morris JE will have an average range of 250-mile based on a half payload of half a ton.

The company looked at a number of sites across the UK, where it was also offered financial incentives, before opting to locate the project at a 50,000sq ft former MoD hangar building, which is surrounded by land for potential long-term expansion.