Sunswap scales production with major new facility to meet accelerating global demand

Sunswap has moved into a new production facility in Leatherhead, Surrey, four times the size of its previous site, as demand for its fully electric transport refrigeration systems continues to grow worldwide.

The move marks Sunswap’s second expansion in just 14 months, having already outgrown a site completed in January 2025. This rapid progression reflects the company’s strong market traction and its ability to move decisively at pace — scaling operations quickly to meet rising global demand. Since its founding in 2020, Sunswap’s operation has grown to roughly 200 times its original size, enabling them to build thousands of units a year.  

The Sunswap Technology Centre brings together everything required to design, test, develop, build and support its products at scale. The site includes significantly expanded production capacity to meet global market demand, alongside a dedicated R&D zone where the next generation of Sunswap technology is developed. It also incorporates a full-service Vehicle Maintenance Unit capable of housing six trailers, including double-deck and long-wheelbase configurations, enabling servicing for a wide range of customer trailer specifications on-site. In parallel, dedicated space supports the development of digital tools that give operators greater visibility and control over their cold chain.

Michael Lowe, CEO of Sunswap, said:

"We expanded in January 2025 and outgrew that space before the year was out. This new facility gives us the ability to scale production significantly, continue developing the tools operators rely on every day, expand our proactive aftermarket service, and keep advancing the technology that sets us apart — all in one place.

For operators committing to Sunswap in the UK, Ireland, Mainland Europe, Chile or Australia, this investment is how we meet growing global demand and support fleets as they transition to zero-emission refrigeration."*

The Surrey site now serves as Sunswap’s operational base as it supplies fleet operators across six countries in three continents, with units already running in fleets operated by Walmart, Tesco, DFDS, Ocado, Birds Eye, and more. The company expects this footprint to expand rapidly, with plans to support customers across five continents by the end of the year.

Phil Pluck, Chief Executive of the Cold Chain Federation, said:

"What Sunswap is building in Surrey is a signal for the whole sector. A UK manufacturer scaling to meet global demand, bringing technology into transport refrigeration that the industry hasn’t seen before. The cold chain needs exactly this kind of commitment — to manufacturing, to innovation, and to making the transition genuinely possible for operators. Change needs passionate disruptors, and Sunswap is delivering exactly that. The future looks bright as it expands across the globe."

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