Aston Martin - automotive industry company news

GERMANY: Daimler in supply deal talks with Aston Martin

9 May 2013

Daimler is reportedly in early talks with Aston Martin over a supply arrangement to Aston Martin that is thought to involve Mercedes engines.

US: Tesla lures Aston Martin's vehicle engineering chief

7 May 2013

Tesla has named Aston Martin's vehicle engineering head, Chris Porritt, as its new vice president of vehicle engineering.

UK: Aston Martin confirms Investindustrial partnership

2 May 2013

Aston Martin has confirmed that the Investindustrial partnership previously announced in December 2012 has been completed.

Q&A with Alset Global: Hydrogen powered race cars

12 April 2013

Since 2005, Alset Global has been developing technologies that will enable the introduction of hydrogen-powered vehicles both for passenger cars and commercial vehicles. With European engineering headquarters in Graz, Austria Alset is leading a coalition of more than ten partner organisations to introduce this technology in time for new European emission standards in 2020. At this year's Geneva motor show, Dr Bez, CEO of Aston Martin announced that Alset would be providing its Hybrid Hydrogen system for a prototype Aston Martin Rapide S. This car would become the first hydrogen powered race car to compete in an official race, beating the Garage 56 entry at Le Mans to a track debut. To uncover the full story, Matthew Beecham talked with Alset Global's CEO, Jose Ignacio Galindo.

UK: Aston Martin expects boost from new models

12 April 2013

Aston Martin Holdings has reported 2012 final quarter revenue up 20% over the same period in 2011 and a full year adjusted EBITDA of GBP69.3m (US$106.51) on sales of 3,800 vehicles.

GENEVA 2013 PRESS PREVIEW DAYS REVIEW: Part One

7 March 2013

As our list of vehicle and concept world premieres attests, this year’s Geneva motor show media preview days saw a bumper crop of new models revealed. Glenn Brooks, our man at the Palais des Expositions, reports his observations.

GENEVA: Global vehicle debuts list [Final version with additional cars & updated descriptions]

6 March 2013

Details of concepts and new models which made their global debuts at the Geneva motor show on media preview days 5 and 6 March.

Q&A with Zircotec: Thermal management solutions for the Aston Martin One-77

21 February 2013

Based in Oxfordshire, UK Zircotec is a specialist coatings company that produces a range of proprietary plasma-sprayed metal and ceramic coatings to protect materials from the damaging effects of heat, abrasion and wear. Over the past year, Zircotec has been working with Aston Martin to provide thermal management solutions for its exclusive new supercar, the One-77. Matthew Beecham talked with Terry Graham, managing director of Zircotec to find out how their products were used in the supercar.

UK: Car market up 11.5% in January

6 February 2013

UK new car registrations rose 11.5% to 143,643 units in January, another positive result to contrast with markets elsewhere in Europe.

THE WEEK THAT WAS: The South of France - in the rain

25 January 2013

"Come to the South of France and try our updated Verso," said Toyota. "Nice," I said. "Yes," they said, "Nice airport for Cannes and we'll show you our ED2 design studio which did the updates." A little southern Europe winter sun after British snow, I thought, you can guess the rest.

DETROIT SHOW: Global debuts list [Final version]

16 January 2013

A final list of world premiere concepts and production models which appeared at the North American International Auto Show's media preview days.

UK: 2012 new car market tops 2m and hits four-year high

7 January 2013

The UK new car market rose 5.3% in 2012 to over 2m units, the best result since recession struck in 2008. The positive result contrasts with declines in other major European national car markets.

December 2012 management briefing: Review of 2012 (part 2)

21 December 2012

Like any year in the auto industry, 2012 saw its fair share of company ups and downs, industrial comings and goings, and a fair old sprinkling of corporate drama. It was also a year of economic uncertainty hovering over automotive markets. We covered it all on just-auto. Editor Dave Leggett sifts through the lot and picks out a few highlights from the year just gone, month by month. Part one covers the first half of the year, part two the second. This is part two (July-December).

UK: Aston Martin sells stake to Investindustrial

7 December 2012

Aston Martin has announced that it is to receive a GBP150m investment from private equity firm Investindustrial in return for a 37.5% stake in the business.

US: Renamed Lincoln launches with MKZ

4 December 2012

Ford's said its upmarket brand, from the newly renamed 'The Lincoln Motor Company' wants "once again be a major competitor in the premium automotive marketplace", starting with the new MKZ midsize luxury sedan.

THE WEEK THAT WAS: Anyone want to buy a supercar maker?

30 November 2012

Intriguing observation from the Los Angeles motor show this week. No one from British HQ on the Aston Martin stand, which was run instead by the local dealer, so perhaps they were all back in Blighty readying for a much-rumoured sale?

LA SHOW: First Fisker Karma sold in UK

29 November 2012

The first Fisker Karma extended-range electric saloon for a UK customer will soon be delivered to the so far unnamed premiership footballer.

LA SHOW: Aston Martin Vanquish gets 150 orders

29 November 2012

There was no one from UK headquarters on the Aston Martin stand at the LA show, they were all dealing with the issue of who will buy the famous old sports car company.

UK: Two bidders competing for Aston Martin stake - reports

26 November 2012

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) and Investindustrial, a European private-equity fund based in Switzerland, are reportedly bidding for a substantial stake to take control of Aston Martin.

LA SHOW PREVIEW: Aston Martin Vanquish set for LA Show

26 November 2012

The new 2014 Aston Martin Vanquish will be showcased at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show this week.

UK: Cosworth ‘up for sale’

17 October 2012

Cosworth, the higher performance racing engine maker, is up for sale, The Times newspaper reported.

REVIEW: In-Vehicle Infotainment Global Summit 2012

1 October 2012

Over 100 people gathered in London on September 25-26 for London Business Conferences Connected In-Vehicle Summit. The central theme for the two days was bringing In-Vehicle Connectivity to customers through integration of devices, Apps and experiences. Vanessa Scholfield was there.

PARIS SHOW: Final list of world premieres [model summaries updated where needed]

1 October 2012

An updated list of world premiere concepts and production models which appeared at the Paris motor show's 27 & 28 September press preview days.

September 2012 management briefing: Paris Motor Show preview

25 September 2012

Glenn Brooks, at the Paris show, has compiled a listing of new vehicle world premieres, which he has been updating regularly over the last few months. As an accompaniment to this list, here's an extended preview written just ahead of the show.

PEBBLE BEACH/MONTEREY WEEEKEND: Final list of world premieres

20 August 2012

The 61st Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance took place on the lawns of the famous Californian golf club on 19 August. The global debuts of many cars took place there as well as at other events elsewhere on the Monterey Peninsula.

US: Stick sales shift up

1 August 2012

Stick shifts are making a small comeback in the US with 7% of new cars sold this year equipped with manual transmission, according to Edmunds.com.

US: Ford has to address Europe overcapacity issue

23 July 2012

With overseas losses reducing total profit, analysts say Ford is under pressure to close at least one factory in Europe, where it may have more excess capacity than General Motors.

FRANCE: Faurecia acquires automotive business of Sora Composites

20 July 2012

Faurecia has purchased the automotive business of Sora Composites. The division specialises in the manufacture of composite plastics and the use of glass and carbon fibre for automotive applications.