History of Aston Martin in Timeline
Aston Martin is a British manufacturer of luxury sports cars and grand tourers, founded in 1913 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford. Under David Brown's leadership from 1947, the brand became synonymous with high-end grand touring cars during the 1950s and 60s. Its association with James Bond, particularly the DB5 model in the 1964 film *Goldfinger*, has solidified its status as a British cultural icon. The company continues to produce prestigious sports cars and grand tourers.
1908: First Aston Martin car creation
The first car to be named Aston Martin was created in 1908 by Martin by fitting a four-cylinder Coventry-Simplex engine to the chassis of a 1908 Isotta Fraschini.
1913: Aston Martin Founded
In 1913, Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford founded the predecessor to Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings PLC, a British manufacturer of luxury sports cars and grand tourers.
1914: Production of the Green Pea car
In 1914, chassis number 1914, later developed as the Green Pea, was built for racing and record-breaking.
March 1915: First car produced at Henniker Mews
In March 1915, Aston Martin produced its first car at Henniker Mews in Kensington. However, production was halted due to the outbreak of World War I.
1915: Production of the Razor Blade car
In 1915, chassis number 1915, the Razor Blade record car, was built for racing and record-breaking.
1916: Production of the Halford Special car
In 1916, chassis number 1916, later developed as the Halford Special, was built for racing and record-breaking.
1920: Bamford leaves the company
In 1920, Bamford had already left Bamford & Martin.
1922: French Grand Prix Cars
In 1922, Bamford & Martin produced cars to compete in the French Grand Prix, which set world speed and endurance records at Brooklands.
1924: Bamford & Martin Bankrupt
In 1924, Bamford & Martin went bankrupt and was bought by Dorothea, Lady Charnwood.
1925: Martin forced to sell the company
In 1925, Bamford & Martin got into financial difficulty again, and Martin was forced to sell the company.
1926: Bertelli becomes Technical Director
In 1926, Bertelli became the technical director and designer of all new Aston Martins, which were known as "Bertelli cars".
1932: Financial Problems Reappear
In 1932, Aston Martin faced financial problems again and was rescued for a year by Lance Prideaux Brune.
1936: Focus Shift to Road Cars
In 1936, Aston Martin decided to concentrate on road cars, producing only 700 vehicles until World War II halted work.
1937: End of Bertelli era
By 1937, Bertelli was no longer the technical director and designer of all new Aston Martins.
1947: David Brown became head of Aston Martin
In 1947 David Brown became head of Aston Martin, associating the brand with expensive grand touring cars in the 1950s and 1960s.
April 1950: Production of Le Mans Prototype announced
In April 1950, Aston Martin announced planned production of their Le Mans prototype to be called the DB2.
1954: Tadek Marek designs engines
From 1954, Tadek Marek designed the six-cylinder engines of Aston Martin cars.
1955: Aston Martin bought Tickford
In 1955, Aston Martin bought Tickford, their in-house coachbuilder.
1955: Release of the DB2/4 MkII
In 1955, Aston Martin released the DB2/4 MkII.
1955: Newport Pagnell plant opened
In 1955, the Newport Pagnell plant was opened, beginning the production of nearly 13,000 cars until July 2007.
1956: Aston Martin DBR1/1 Driven
In 1956, the Aston Martin DBR1/1 was driven by Carroll Shelby and Stirling Moss.
1957: Release of the DB Mark III
In 1957, Aston Martin released the DB Mark III.
1958: Release of the DB4
In 1958, Aston Martin released the Italian-styled 3.7 L DB4.
1959: Participated as Formula One constructor
In 1959, Aston Martin participated as a Formula One constructor.
1960: Participated as Formula One constructor
In 1960, Aston Martin participated as a Formula One constructor.
1962: Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato
In 1962, a 1962 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato sold for US$14,300,000 in New York.
1963: Aston Martin DP215 sold
In 1963, a 1963 Aston Martin DP215 sold for US$21,455,000 in August 2018.
1964: James Bond's DB5 in Goldfinger
In 1964, the fictional character James Bond used a DB5 model in the film Goldfinger, associating Aston Martin with the character.
1965: Release of the DB6
In 1965, Aston Martin stayed true to its grand touring style with the DB6.
1965: End of Tadek Marek engine designs
Up to 1965, the six-cylinder engines of Aston Martin cars were designed by Tadek Marek.
1967: Release of the DBS
In 1967, Aston Martin stayed true to its grand touring style with the DBS.
1972: David Brown Pays off Debts
In 1972, David Brown paid off Aston Martin's debts and handed it over to Company Developments.
1974: Aston Martin into Receivership
At the end of 1974, Aston Martin went into receivership due to a recession and difficulties in meeting California's emission requirements.
April 1975: Business Sold to New Owners
In April 1975, the receiver sold Aston Martin for £1.05 million to Peter Sprague, George Minden, and Jeremy Turner.
September 1975: Factory Re-opened Under New Ownership
In September 1975, the factory reopened under new ownership as Aston Martin Lagonda Limited with 100 employees, planning to increase staff to 250 by the end of 1975.
January 1976: AML Reveals Orders and Fred Hartley Resigns
In January 1976, AML revealed it held orders for 150 cars for the US, 100 for other markets, and 80 from a Japanese importing agency. Fred Hartley, managing director and sales director, resigned due to differences in marketing policy.
1977: Release of the V8 Vantage
In 1977, Aston Martin modernized its line by introducing the V8 Vantage.
1978: Release of the Volante
In 1978, Aston Martin modernized its line by introducing the convertible Volante.
July 1980: Workforce Reduction
In July 1980, Aston Martin Lagonda cut back its workforce of 450 by more than 20% due to a recession.
1980: Introduction of the Bulldog
In 1980, Aston Martin introduced the one-off Bulldog styled by William Towns.
1980: Gauntlett buys stake in Aston Martin
In 1980, Victor Gauntlett bought a 12.5% stake in Aston Martin for £500,000 through Pace Petroleum.
January 1981: Aston Martin Lagonda to be sold to Victor Gauntlett
In January 1981, Alan Curtis and Peter Sprague announced the sale of Aston Martin Lagonda to Pace Petroleum's Victor Gauntlett.
1981: Pace and CHI take over Aston Martin
At the beginning of 1981, Pace and CHI took over as joint 50/50 owners of Aston Martin, with Gauntlett as executive chairman.
1982: Royal Warrant Granted
In 1982, Aston Martin received a royal warrant as purveyor of motorcars to Charles III, who was the Prince of Wales at the time.
1982: Nimrod Group C car finished seventh in Le Mans
In 1982, the Tickford-engined Nimrod Group C car finished seventh in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and came third in the Manufacturers Championship.
September 1983: Gauntlett Sells Hays/Pace
In September 1983, Gauntlett agreed to sell Hays/Pace to the Kuwait Investment Office.
1983: Nimrod Group C car came third in the Manufacturers Championship
In 1983, the Tickford-engined Nimrod Group C car came third in the Manufacturers Championship.
1984: Gauntlett Reacquires Stake in AML
In 1984, Gauntlett again became a shareholder with a 25% holding in AML, the year it built its 10,000th car.
1986: Bond Returns to Aston Martin
In 1986, Gauntlett negotiated the return of James Bond to Aston Martin, with his personal Vantage used in The Living Daylights.
September 1987: Ford Acquires Stake
In September 1987, Ford bought a 75% stake in Aston Martin after discussions between Walter Hayes and Victor Gauntlett.
1987: Ford builds a stake in Aston Martin
In 1987, Ford built a stake in Aston Martin before fully acquiring the company later.
1988: Introduction of the Virage Range
In 1988, Aston Martin retired the ancient V8 and introduced the Virage range after producing some 5,000 cars in 20 years.
1989: Return to sports car racing
In 1989, Aston Martin returned to sports car racing due to Gauntlett's racing interests, though with limited European success.
1990: Ford provides Cosworth engines to Jaguar
In 1990, with engine rule changes and the launch of the new Volante model, Ford provided a limited supply of Cosworth engines to the Jaguar racing team.
1991: Gauntlett hands over chairmanship to Hayes
In 1991, Ford agreed to take full control of Aston Martin as the entry-level DB7 required large engineering input, and Gauntlett handed over the chairmanship to Hayes.
1992: Announcement of the Virage Vantage
In 1992, Aston Martin announced the high-performance variant of the Virage, called the Vantage.
1993: Ford fully acquires Aston Martin
In 1993, Ford fully acquired Aston Martin, placing it in the Premier Automotive Group, and invested in new manufacturing to ramp up production.
1994: Opening of the Banbury Road factory
In 1994, Ford opened a new factory at Banbury Road in Bloxham to manufacture the DB7.
1995: Record car production
In 1995, Aston Martin achieved a record production of 700 cars, marking a shift from hand-built methods to new manufacturing processes.
1998: 2,000th DB7 built
In 1998, Aston Martin built the 2,000th DB7, exceeding the production of all previous DB series models.
1999: Revamp of the DB7 range
In 1999, the DB7 range was revamped with the addition of more powerful V12 Vantage models.
2001: Introduction of the Vanquish
In 2001, Aston Martin introduced the V12-engined flagship model called the Vanquish, which succeeded the aging Virage (now called the V8 Coupé).
2002: 6,000th DB7 built
In 2002, the 6,000th DB7 was built, exceeding the production of all the previous DB series models.
December 2003: Announcement of return to motor racing
In December 2003, Aston Martin announced it would return to motor racing in 2005, creating the Aston Martin Racing division.
2003: Introduction of V8 Vantage concept car and opening of Gaydon factory
In 2003, Aston Martin introduced the V8 Vantage concept car at the North American International Auto Show and opened the Gaydon factory, its first purpose-built factory.
2003: Queen's Award for Enterprise
In 2003, Aston Martin received the Queen's Award for Enterprise for outstanding contribution to international trade.
October 2004: Establishment of Aston Martin Engine Plant
In October 2004, Aston Martin set up the dedicated Aston Martin Engine Plant (AMEP) within the Ford Germany plant in Cologne, with the capacity to produce up to 5,000 engines a year.
2004: Introduction of the DB9 Volante
In 2004, Aston Martin introduced the DB9 Volante, a convertible version of the DB9, at the Detroit auto show.
2005: Aston Martin Racing competes in GT class
In 2005, Aston Martin returned to motor racing. Aston Martin Racing, together with Prodrive, competed in the GT class in sports car races, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the DBR9.
2005: Expected introduction of the Vantage
The V8 Vantage was expected to be introduced in 2005, bringing back the classic V8 engine to allow Aston Martin to compete in a larger market.
August 2006: Ford considers selling Aston Martin
In August 2006, after an internal audit, Ford announced it had engaged UBS AG to sell all or part of Aston Martin at auction.
2006: V8 Vantage production
In 2006, the entry-level V8 Vantage sports car entered production at the Gaydon factory, joining the DB9 and DB9 Volante.
March 2007: Consortium led by David Richards purchases Aston Martin
On 12 March 2007, a consortium led by Prodrive chairman David Richards purchased Aston Martin for £475 million, with Ford retaining a stake.
July 2007: Last car rolled out of Newport Pagnell plant
On 19 July 2007, the Newport Pagnell plant rolled out the last of nearly 13,000 cars made there since 1955, a Vanquish S. The facility was converted to house the Aston Martin Works classic car department.
August 2007: East-west crossing of the Asian Highway
Between June and August 2007, the first east–west crossing of the Asian Highway was undertaken to demonstrate the V8 Vantage's durability, promoting the car in China. This led to Aston Martin opening dealerships in Shanghai and Beijing within three months.
2007: Higher car sales
In 2007, Aston Martin sold 7,300 cars during the year, before sales started declining from 2015.
March 2008: Partnership with Magna Steyr
In March 2008, Aston Martin announced a partnership with Magna Steyr to outsource the manufacture of over 2,000 cars annually to Graz, Austria.
September 2008: Revival of the Lagonda marque
On 1 September 2008, Aston Martin announced the revival of the Lagonda marque, proposing a concept car to be shown in 2009.
December 2008: Workforce reduction due to recession
In December 2008, Aston Martin announced it would cut its workforce from 1,850 to 1,250 due to the economic recession.
2009: Lagonda concept car to be shown
In 2009, the concept car for the revival of the Lagonda marque was proposed to be shown, coinciding with the brand's 100th anniversary.
2010: Rapide production begins at Magna Steyr
In 2010, the first four-door Rapide grand tourers rolled out of the Magna Steyr factory in Graz, Austria.
September 2011: Production of Rapide to return to Gaydon
In September 2011, it was announced that production of the Rapide would be returned to Gaydon in the second half of 2012.
2011: Issuance of senior secured notes
In 2011, Aston Martin issued £304 million of senior secured notes at 9.25% interest, in addition to the issuance of payment in kind notes in March 2014.
December 2012: Investindustrial buys stake in Aston Martin
On 6 December 2012, Investindustrial signed a deal to buy a 37.5% stake in Aston Martin, investing £150 million. This was confirmed on 7 December 2012.
2012: Slated production of first Lagonda cars
In 2012, the first production cars for the revived Lagonda marque were slated for production.
2012: Production of Rapide returned to Gaydon
In the second half of 2012, the production of the Rapide was returned to Gaydon, restoring all of the company's automobile manufacture there.
April 2013: Bez to leave CEO role
In April 2013, it was reported that Bez would be leaving his role as the chief executive officer to take up a more ambassadorial position.
December 2013: Deal with Mercedes-Benz Group
In December 2013, Aston Martin signed a deal with Mercedes-Benz Group to supply the next generation of Aston Martin cars with Mercedes-AMG engines and electrical systems.
2013: Pre-tax losses for Aston Martin
In 2013, Aston Martin sold 4,200 cars, contributing to pre-tax losses of £72 million in 2014, almost triple the amount of 2013.
2013: David Richards leaves Aston Martin
In 2013, David Richards left Aston Martin to concentrate on Prodrive.
March 2014: Issuance of payment in kind notes
In March 2014, Aston Martin issued "payment in kind" notes of US$165 million, at 10.25% interest, in addition to senior secured notes issued in 2011.
September 2014: Andy Palmer appointed as new CEO
On 2 September 2014, Aston Martin announced it had appointed the Nissan executive Andy Palmer as the new CEO, with Bez retaining a position as non-executive chairman.
2015: Aston Martin seeks new customers
From 2015, as sales declined, Aston Martin sought new customers by introducing concept cars like the DBX SUV and track-focused cars like the Vulcan.
2015: Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato Sold for $14.3 Million
In 2015, a 1962 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato sold for US$14,300,000 in New York.
2015: Efforts to Appeal to Women
Since 2015, Aston Martin has sought to increase its appeal to women as a luxury lifestyle brand.
February 2016: Selection of St Athan site for new factory
In February 2016, Aston Martin selected a 90-acre site in St Athan, South Wales, for its new factory.
March 2016: Announcement of the DB11
In March 2016, Aston Martin announced the DB11 at the Geneva Motor Show, featuring Mercedes-Benz electronics and Mercedes-AMG V8 engines.
September 2016: Aston Martin AM37 Powerboat Unveiled
In September 2016, a 37-foot-long Aston Martin speedboat called the Aston Martin AM37 powerboat was unveiled.
2016: Losses for Aston Martin
In 2016, Aston Martin had £163 million in losses before tax, before shifting to profits in 2018.
2016: Increased pre-tax losses
In 2016, Aston Martin's pre-tax losses increased by 27% to £162.8 million, the sixth year it continued to suffer a loss.
April 2017: Construction work commences at St Athan
In April 2017, construction work of converting the hangars commenced at the new factory site in St Athan, South Wales.
August 2017: Aston Martin DBR1/1 Sold at Auction for $22.55 Million
In August 2017, a 1956 Aston Martin DBR1/1 sold at a Sotheby's auction at the Pebble Beach, California Concours d'Elegance for US$22,550,000, becoming the most expensive British car ever sold at an auction, according to Sotheby's.
November 2017: Limited Edition Bicycle Unveiled
In November 2017, Aston Martin unveiled a special limited edition bicycle after collaborating with bicycle manufacturer Storck.
May 2018: Project Neptune Submersible Launched
In May 2018, Aston Martin launched a submersible called Project Neptune in partnership with submarine building company Triton Submarines.
July 2018: Release of Lego James Bond DB5 and TAG Heuer Watch
Also in July 2018, a Lego version of James Bond's DB5 car was put on sale, and an Aston Martin-branded watch was released in collaboration with TAG Heuer.
July 2018: Unveiling of Volante Vision Concept Aircraft
In July 2018, Aston Martin unveiled the Volante Vision Concept, a luxury concept aircraft with vertical take-off and landing capabilities.
August 2018: Plans to float the company at the London Stock Exchange
In August 2018, Aston Martin announced plans to float the company at the London Stock Exchange as Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc, reporting a full-year pre-tax profit of £87 million, compared with a £163 million loss in 2016.
August 2018: Aston Martin DP215 Sold for $21,455,000
In August 2018, a 1963 Aston Martin DP215 sold for US$21,455,000.
October 2018: Opening of Design and Brand Studio in Shanghai
In October 2018, Aston Martin announced it was opening a design and brand studio in Shanghai.
October 2018: Initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange
On 3 October 2018, Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc had an initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange.
June 2019: Opening of new factory in St Athan
In June 2019, Aston Martin opened its new factory in St Athan for the production of its first-ever SUV, the DBX.
December 2019: Official opening of St Athan factory
On 6 December 2019, Aston Martin's new factory in St Athan was officially opened.
January 2020: Racing Point Rebrands as Aston Martin
In January 2020, it was announced that the Racing Point F1 Team would be rebranded as Aston Martin for the 2021 season, due to a funding investment led by Lawrence Stroll.
January 2020: Lawrence Stroll leads consortium investing in Aston Martin
On 31 January 2020, it was announced that Lawrence Stroll was leading a consortium, Yew Tree Overseas Limited, who will pay £182 million in return for a 16.7% stake in Aston Martin.
March 2020: Stroll increases stake in Aston Martin
In March 2020, Lawrence Stroll increased his stake in Aston Martin to 25%.
May 2020: Andy Palmer Steps Down as CEO
On May 2020, Aston Martin announced that Andy Palmer had stepped down as CEO. Tobias Moers of Mercedes-AMG would succeed him starting August 1, with Keith Stanton as interim chief operating officer.
June 2020: Company Announces 500 Job Cuts
In June 2020, Aston Martin announced that it cut 500 jobs as a result of poor sales due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
October 2020: Mercedes increases stake in Aston Martin
In October 2020, Mercedes confirmed it would increase its holding in Aston Martin "in stages" from 5% to 20% in return for access to hybrid and electric drivetrain technologies.
November 2020: Controversy Over Electric Vehicle Report
In November 2020, Aston Martin was involved in a controversy dubbed "Astongate" for allegedly using a report from Clarendon Communications to spread disputed information about electric vehicles. The report compared the environmental impact of various powertrain options for cars and stated that electric vehicles would need to be driven 48,000 miles (77,000 km) before they would have lower overall CO2 emissions than a petrol car, a statement disputed by electric vehicle researcher Auke Hoekstra.
2020: Full production begins at St Athan
In the second quarter of 2020, full production was planned to begin at the factory in St Athan, employing around 600 people, rising to 750 at peak production.
March 2021: Plans for Electric Vehicles by 2025
In March 2021, executive chairman Lawrence Stroll stated that the company plans on building electric vehicles by 2025.
March 2021: Unveiling of Aston Martin AMR21
In March 2021, the Aston Martin AMR21 was unveiled as Aston Martin's first Formula One car after a 61-year absence from the sport.
May 2022: Amedeo Felisa Named New CEO
In May 2022, Aston Martin named 76-year-old Amedeo Felisa as the new chief executive officer, replacing Tobias Moers. Roberto Fedeli was also announced as the new chief technical officer.
July 2022: Saudi Arabia's PIF Invests in Aston Martin
In July 2022, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) took a stake in Aston Martin through a £78 million equity placing and a £575 million rights issue, gaining two board seats and a 16.7% stake after the rights issue.
September 2022: Geely Acquires Stake in Aston Martin
In September 2022, Chinese automaker Geely acquired a 7.6% stake in Aston Martin.
December 2022: Stroll Increases Stake in Company
In December 2022, Lawrence Stroll and the Yew Tree consortium increased their stake in Aston Martin to 28.29%.
May 2023: Geely Increases Stake to 17%
In May 2023, Geely increased its stake in Aston Martin to 17%, becoming the third-largest shareholder.
June 2023: Agreement with Lucid Motors
In June 2023, Aston Martin signed an agreement with Lucid Motors to supply electric motors, powertrains, and battery systems for its upcoming range of fully electric cars. In return, Aston Martin will make cash payments and issue a 3.7 percent stake in its company to Lucid, worth $232 million in total.
September 2023: Yew Tree Consortium Increases Stake
In September 2023, the Yew Tree consortium increased their stake in Aston Martin by 3.27% to 26.23%.
October 2023: Aston Martin to Compete in FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA SportsCar Championship
In October 2023, Aston Martin announced that it would compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA SportsCar Championship in 2025.
March 2024: Adrian Hallmark Appointed New CEO
In March 2024, Aston Martin announced Adrian Hallmark as its new CEO beginning 1 October 2024, replacing Amedeo Felisa.
April 2024: Electric Vehicle Production Pushed Back to 2027
In April 2024, Aston Martin said it would push back production of its first electric vehicle to 2027.
September 2024: Profit Warning Due to Fall in Demand in China
In September 2024, Aston Martin issued a profit warning, saying it had been hit by a fall in demand in China.
October 2024: Adrian Hallmark Begins as CEO
In October 2024, Adrian Hallmark began as CEO for Aston Martin.
November 2024: Another Warning and Share Issuance
In November 2024, Aston Martin issued another warning following a minor delay in the deliveries of their Valiant model. In response, they said they would issue new shares and debt totalling £210 million.
February 2025: Electric Vehicle Production Delayed to 2030
In February 2025, CEO Adrian Hallmark announced the company would again push back production of its first electric vehicle to 2030.
March 2025: Yew Tree Consortium to Invest Additional Funds
On 31 March 2025, the Yew Tree Consortium is set to inject an additional £52.5 million into the marque by purchasing 75 million shares at 70 pence per share, increasing its stake to 33%. The company will also sell shares in the Formula One racing team that it sponsors. In total, the two transactions will raise £125 million.
2025: Planned participation in FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA SportsCar Championship
In 2025, Aston Martin plans to compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA SportsCar Championship.
2025: Planned Electric Vehicles
In 2025, the company planned on building electric vehicles.
2027: Production of First Electric Vehicle
In 2027, Aston Martin will push back the production of its first electric vehicle.
2030: Planned Electric Vehicle Production
In 2030, CEO Adrian Hallmark announced the company would again push back production of its first electric vehicle to 2030.
2030: UK's Declaration to End Combustion Engine Vehicles
In 2030, the UK declared to end the sale of combustion engine vehicles which led to controversy.
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