Months after Herbert Austin opened the Longbridge factory, the first Austin car was produced by the end of March 1906. Austin Village was built in 1917 to house women - aka The Munitionettes - who played a vital role in the war effort. By 1930, 1000 cars were rolled out weekly & during WWII, 300 Hurricanes were built at the historic factory which celebrates 120 years in 2026.