Just the Facts:
LONDON — Aston Martin continues to deny rumors of a possible sale, but such a move could give the automaker greater access to technical resources and investment cash.
Industry observers note that although the luxury sports carmaker regularly introduces new model variations on its existing range, almost all of them are based on the aging aluminum VH platform. The buzz in the European auto industry is that an alliance with a large automaker would give Aston Martin access to the resources and know-how that it has had to do without since Ford sold the company in 2007.
Aston Martin is the rare luxury sports carmaker not owned by a larger car company. Ford sold Aston Martin, James Bond's favorite carmaker, to a consortium of investors in a 2007 deal said to be valued at around $925 million. The group included racing mogul David Richards and a pair of Kuwaiti companies, Investment Dar and Adeem Investment.
The Investment Dar Company of Kuwait, which owns a 64 percent stake in Aston Martin, has retained advisors to help it sell its share, according to a recent Bloomberg report.
An Aston Martin spokesman reiterated to Edmunds this week that the company is not for sale and that Investment Dar is not selling its stake.
Bloomberg reported that Toyota and Mahindra & Mahindra are among the interested parties. Sources within Toyota told Edmunds the report is not true.
A sale of Aston Martin could prove difficult because of the asking price. Investment Dar is believed to be looking for $800 million for the company in an attempt to recoup the similar sum it paid in 2007.
The latest Bond movie, Skyfall, features actor Daniel Craig at the wheel of a classic Aston Martin DB5.
Edmunds says: Aston Martin is getting a boost from the new Bond movie, but its future still looks murky with flat current-year sales and uncertainty about an alleged shareholding sale.
- Aston Martin continues to deny rumors of a possible sale, but such a move could give the automaker greater access to technical resources and investment cash.
- Industry observers note that although the luxury sports carmaker regularly introduces new model variations on its existing range, almost all of them are based on the aging aluminum VH platform.
- Aston Martin is the rare luxury sports carmaker not owned by a larger car company.
LONDON — Aston Martin continues to deny rumors of a possible sale, but such a move could give the automaker greater access to technical resources and investment cash.
Industry observers note that although the luxury sports carmaker regularly introduces new model variations on its existing range, almost all of them are based on the aging aluminum VH platform. The buzz in the European auto industry is that an alliance with a large automaker would give Aston Martin access to the resources and know-how that it has had to do without since Ford sold the company in 2007.
Aston Martin is the rare luxury sports carmaker not owned by a larger car company. Ford sold Aston Martin, James Bond's favorite carmaker, to a consortium of investors in a 2007 deal said to be valued at around $925 million. The group included racing mogul David Richards and a pair of Kuwaiti companies, Investment Dar and Adeem Investment.
The Investment Dar Company of Kuwait, which owns a 64 percent stake in Aston Martin, has retained advisors to help it sell its share, according to a recent Bloomberg report.
An Aston Martin spokesman reiterated to Edmunds this week that the company is not for sale and that Investment Dar is not selling its stake.
Bloomberg reported that Toyota and Mahindra & Mahindra are among the interested parties. Sources within Toyota told Edmunds the report is not true.
A sale of Aston Martin could prove difficult because of the asking price. Investment Dar is believed to be looking for $800 million for the company in an attempt to recoup the similar sum it paid in 2007.
The latest Bond movie, Skyfall, features actor Daniel Craig at the wheel of a classic Aston Martin DB5.
Edmunds says: Aston Martin is getting a boost from the new Bond movie, but its future still looks murky with flat current-year sales and uncertainty about an alleged shareholding sale.
