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 company became renowned for its high-end grand touring cars, particularly during the 1950s and 1960s. The brand gained further recognition through its association with James Bond, most notably with the DB5 model in the 1964 film Goldfinger. Today, Aston Martin's vehicles are considered a British cultural icon.
In 1908, Lionel Martin created the first car to be named Aston Martin by fitting a four-cylinder Coventry-Simplex engine to an Isotta Fraschini chassis.
In 1913, Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford founded the company that would become Aston Martin, initially focusing on selling and servicing cars.
In 1914, chassis number 1914 was created, and later developed as the Green Pea.
In March 1915, Aston Martin produced its first car at Henniker Mews in Kensington, though production was soon halted due to the outbreak of World War I.
In 1915, chassis number 1915, known as the Razor Blade record car, was created.
In 1916, chassis number 1916 was created, and later developed as the Halford Special.
In 1920, Bamford left Bamford & Martin, which was then revitalized with funding from Louis Zborowski.
In 1922, Bamford & Martin produced cars to compete in the French Grand Prix, subsequently setting world speed and endurance records at Brooklands.
In 1924, Bamford & Martin went bankrupt and was bought by Dorothea, Lady Charnwood, who put her son John Benson on the board.
In 1925, Bamford & Martin got into financial difficulty again and Martin was forced to sell the company, Bamford had already left it in 1920.
In 1926, Bertelli became technical director and designer of all new Aston Martins, initiating the era known as "Bertelli cars".
In 1932, Aston Martin faced financial problems and was rescued for a year by Lance Prideaux Brune.
In 1936, Aston Martin decided to concentrate on road cars, producing just 700 until World War II halted production.
In 1937, Bertelli's tenure as technical director and designer of Aston Martin concluded, marking the end of the "Bertelli cars" era.
In 1947, David Brown Limited acquired Aston Martin and Lagonda, leading to the development of the classic "DB" series of cars.
In April 1950, Aston Martin announced planned production of their Le Mans prototype to be called the DB2.
In 1953, Aston Martin released the DB2/4 model, expanding on the DB2 series.
In 1954, Tadek Marek designed the six-cylinder engines used in Aston Martin cars until 1965.
In 1955, Aston Martin acquired Tickford, a coachbuilder known for high-quality carriages and folding roofs.
In 1955, the DB2/4 MkII was released, marking another iteration in the DB2 series.
Since 1955, nearly 13,000 cars were made at the Newport Pagnell plant until production ceased in July 2007.
In August 2017, a 1956 Aston Martin DBR1/1 was sold at a Sotheby's auction.
In 1957, Aston Martin introduced the DB Mark III, continuing the legacy of the DB series.
In 1958, Aston Martin launched the Italian-styled 3.7 L DB4, setting a new standard for the brand.
Aston Martin participated as a Formula One constructor in 1959 and 1960 entering six races over the two years but failing to score any points.
Aston Martin participated as a Formula One constructor in 1959 and 1960 entering six races over the two years but failing to score any points.
In 2015 a 1962 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato for US$14,300,000 in New York.
In 1963, the DB5 was released, evolving from the DB4 and solidifying Aston Martin's racing pedigree.
In August 2018, a 1963 Aston Martin DP215 for US$21,455,000 was sold.
In 1964, the Aston Martin DB5 was featured in the James Bond film Goldfinger, associating the brand with the fictional spy and enhancing its image as a luxury grand tourer.
In 1965, Tadek Marek's tenure designing Aston Martin's six-cylinder engines, which began in 1954, concluded.
In 1965, the DB6 was released, as Aston Martin stayed true to its grand touring style.
In 1967, the DBS was released, as Aston Martin stayed true to its grand touring style.
In 1972, Aston Martin discontinued production of the DBS.
In 1972, David Brown paid off Aston Martin's debts and sold the company to Company Developments for £101.
At the end of 1974, Aston Martin entered receivership due to recession, lack of capital, and difficulties meeting California's emission standards, leading to the closure of the manufacturing plant.
In April 1975, the receiver sold Aston Martin for £1.05 million to Peter Sprague, George Minden, and Jeremy Turner, with Sprague later emphasizing the value of the factory and workforce.
In September 1975, the Aston Martin factory, which had been shut down the previous December, reopened under new ownership as Aston Martin Lagonda Limited.
In January 1976, Aston Martin Lagonda revealed substantial orders for cars, but Fred Hartley, managing director and sales director, resigned due to differences in marketing policy.
In 1977, the new owners of Aston Martin pushed for modernization by introducing the V8 Vantage.
In 1978, Aston Martin introduced the convertible Volante, expanding its product line.
In July 1980, Aston Martin Lagonda, blaming a recession, reduced its workforce by more than 20%, making 450 people redundant.
In 1980, Victor Gauntlett bought a 12.5% stake in Aston Martin for £500,000 via Pace Petroleum.
In 1980, William Towns styled the one-off Bulldog and the futuristic new Lagonda saloon, based on the V8 model.
In January 1981, Alan Curtis and Peter Sprague announced they would sell Aston Martin Lagonda to Victor Gauntlett of Pace Petroleum, stating their ownership had improved the company's finances.
At the beginning of 1981, Pace Petroleum and CH Industrials took over as joint 50/50 owners of Aston Martin, with Victor Gauntlett as executive chairman.
In 1982, Aston Martin was granted a Royal Warrant of Appointment by the Prince of Wales, further solidifying its prestigious status.
In 1982, Aston Martin was granted a royal warrant as purveyor of motorcars to Charles III, then Prince of Wales, highlighting the brand's prestige.
In 1982, Pace continued sponsoring racing events, including Aston Martin Owners Club events, and a Tickford-engined Nimrod Group C car finished seventh in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race.
In September 1983, Victor Gauntlett agreed to sell Hays/Pace to the Kuwait Investment Office.
In 1983, a Tickford-engined Nimrod Group C car, owned by the AMOC President Viscount Downe, came third in the Manufacturers Championship.
In 1984, Victor Gauntlett again became a shareholder with a 25% holding in AML, as the deal valued Aston Martin/AML at £2 million.
In 1986, Victor Gauntlett negotiated the return of James Bond to Aston Martin, with his personal pre-production Vantage used in 'The Living Daylights'.
In September 1987, Ford took a shareholding in Aston Martin, buying a 75% stake in the company after discussions between Victor Gauntlett, Prince Michael of Kent, and Walter Hayes.
In 1987, Ford started building a stake in Aston Martin before fully acquiring the company in 1993.
In 1988, Aston Martin retired the ancient V8 and introduced the Virage range, after producing some 5,000 cars in 20 years.
In 1989, under Gauntlett's chairmanship, Aston Martin returned to sports car racing, but with limited European success.
In 1990, with engine rule changes and the launch of the new Volante model, Ford provided Cosworth engines to the Jaguar racing team due to a limited supply.
In 1991, with Ford's agreement to take full control of Aston Martin due to the engineering input required for the DB7, Gauntlett handed over Aston Martin's chairmanship to Hayes.
In 1992, Aston Martin announced the high-performance variant of the Virage, called the Vantage.
In 1993, Ford fully acquired Aston Martin, placing it in the Premier Automotive Group, and invested in new manufacturing processes and increased production.
In 1994, Ford opened a new factory at Banbury Road in Bloxham to manufacture the DB7.
In 1995, Aston Martin achieved a record production of 700 cars.
In 1998, Aston Martin built the 2,000th DB7, marking a significant milestone.
In 1999, Aston Martin revamped the DB7 range by adding more powerful V12 Vantage models.
In 2001, Aston Martin introduced the V12-engined flagship model called the Vanquish, which succeeded the aging Virage (now called the V8 Coupé).
In 2002, Aston Martin built the 6,000th DB7, surpassing the production of all previous DB series models.
In December 2003, Aston Martin announced its return to motor racing in 2005 and created Aston Martin Racing to manage the DBR9 program.
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.
In 2003, Aston Martin received the Queen's Award for Enterprise for its outstanding contribution to international trade, acknowledging its global presence and success.
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.
In 2004, Aston Martin introduced a convertible version of the DB9, the DB9 Volante, at the Detroit auto show.
In 2005, Aston Martin returned to motor racing with the DBR9 competing in the GT class in sports car races, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
In 2005, the Vantage was expected to be introduced with few changes, bringing back the classic V8 engine to compete in a larger market.
In August 2006, Ford announced it had engaged UBS AG to sell all or part of Aston Martin at auction, following an internal audit.
In 2006, the entry-level V8 Vantage sports car entered production at the Gaydon factory, joining the DB9 and DB9 Volante.
On 12 March 2007, a consortium led by Prodrive chairman David Richards purchased Aston Martin for £475 million (US$848 million). Ford kept a stake valued at £40 million (US$70 million).
On 19 July 2007, the Newport Pagnell plant produced its last car, a Vanquish S, after making nearly 13,000 cars since 1955. The facility was converted to house the Aston Martin Works classic car department.
Between June and August 2007, to demonstrate durability and promote the car in China, the first east-west crossing of the Asian Highway was undertaken with the V8 Vantage. The promotion was so successful Aston Martin opened dealerships in Shanghai and Beijing within three months.
In 2007, Aston Martin sold 7,300 cars, before the pre-tax losses suffered in later years.
In March 2008, Aston Martin announced a partnership with Magna Steyr to outsource the manufacture of over 2,000 cars annually to Graz, Austria.
On 1 September 2008, Aston Martin announced the revival of the Lagonda marque, with a concept car proposed for 2009 to coincide with the brand's 100th anniversary and first production cars slated for production in 2012.
In December 2008, Aston Martin announced it would cut its workforce from 1,850 to 1,250 due to the economic recession.
In 2009, Aston Martin planned to unveil a Lagonda concept car to coincide with the brand's 100th anniversary.
In 2010, the first four-door Rapide grand tourers rolled out of the Magna Steyr factory in Graz, Austria.
In September 2011, it was announced that production of the Rapide would return to Gaydon in the second half of 2012, restoring all of the company's automobile manufacture there.
In 2011, Aston Martin issued £304 million of senior secured notes at 9.25% interest.
On 6 December 2012, Italian private equity fund Investindustrial signed a deal to buy a 37.5% stake in Aston Martin, investing £150 million as a capital increase, confirmed on 7 December 2012.
In 2012, production of the Rapide returned to Gaydon, consolidating the company's automobile manufacture there.
In 2012, the first production cars for the revived Lagonda marque were slated for production.
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.
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 in exchange for equity.
In 2013, Aston Martin's losses tripled and they sold 4,200 cars during the year.
In 2013, David Richards left Aston Martin, returning to concentrate on Prodrive.
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.
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.
In 2014, Aston Martin suffered a pre-tax loss of £72 million, almost triple of the amount of 2013, selling 3,500 cars during the year.
As sales had been declining from 2015, Aston Martin sought new customers (particularly wealthy female buyers) with introducing concept cars like the DBX SUV along with track focused cars like the Vulcan.
In 2015 a 1962 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato for US$14,300,000 in New York.
Since 2015, Aston Martin has sought to increase its appeal to women as a luxury lifestyle brand, establishing a female advisory panel to adapt car designs.
In February 2016, the company selected a site in St Athan, South Wales, for its new factory. The facility featured three existing 'super-hangars' of MOD St Athan.
In March 2016, at the Geneva Motor Show, the DB11 was announced, featuring Mercedes-Benz electronics and Mercedes-AMG V8 engines.
In September 2016, Aston Martin unveiled a 37-foot-long speedboat called the Aston Martin AM37 powerboat.
In 2016, Aston Martin reported a £163 million loss before the turnaround.
In 2016, Aston Martin's pre-tax losses increased by 27% to £162.8 million, marking the sixth consecutive year of losses.
In April 2017, construction work commenced on converting the hangars at the new factory site in St Athan.
In August 2017, a 1956 Aston Martin DBR1/1 was sold at a Sotheby's auction at Pebble Beach, California for US$22,550,000, making it the most expensive British car ever sold at an auction, having previously been driven by Carroll Shelby and Stirling Moss.
In November 2017, Aston Martin unveiled a special limited edition bicycle in collaboration with bicycle manufacturer Storck.
In May 2018, Aston Martin launched a submersible called Project Neptune in partnership with Triton Submarines.
In July 2018, Aston Martin unveiled the Volante Vision Concept, a luxury concept aircraft with vertical take-off and landing capabilities. Also, a Lego version of James Bond's DB5 car was released, and an Aston Martin-branded watch was launched in collaboration with TAG Heuer.
In August 2018, Aston Martin announced plans to float the company at the London Stock Exchange as Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc, after reporting a full-year pre-tax profit of £87 million.
In August 2018, a 1963 Aston Martin DP215 was sold for US$21,455,000.
In October 2018, Aston Martin announced it was opening a design and brand studio in Shanghai.
On 3 October 2018, Aston Martin had an initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange.
In June 2019, the company opened its new factory in St Athan for the production of its first-ever SUV the DBX.
The St Athan factory was finally completed and officially opened on 6 December 2019.
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 Racing Point owner Lawrence Stroll.
On 31 January 2020, it was announced that Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll was leading a consortium, Yew Tree Overseas Limited, who will pay £182 million in return for 16.7% stake in the company.
In March 2020, Stroll increased his stake in Aston Martin to 25%.
On May 26, 2020, Aston Martin announced that Andy Palmer had stepped down as CEO, to be succeeded by Tobias Moers of Mercedes-AMG starting August 1, with Keith Stanton as interim chief operating officer.
In June 2020, Aston Martin announced the reduction of 500 jobs resulting from poor sales attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
In October 2020, Mercedes confirmed it would increase its holding in Aston Martin "in stages" from 5% to 20% in return for access to Mercedes-Benz hybrid and electric drivetrain technologies.
In November 2020, Aston Martin faced controversy for allegedly using a report by Clarendon Communications to disseminate disputed information about electric vehicles, following the UK's declaration to end combustion engine vehicle sales by 2030. The report, citing a Polestar study, claimed EVs need 48,000 miles to have lower emissions than petrol cars, a claim disputed by EV researcher Auke Hoekstra.
In the second quarter of 2020, full production will begin at the St Athan factory, employing around 600 people, rising to 750 at peak production.
In March 2021, executive chairman Lawrence Stroll announced Aston Martin's plans to develop electric vehicles by 2025.
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, featuring a modern iteration of British racing green.
In May 2022, Aston Martin appointed 76-year-old Amedeo Felisa as the new chief executive officer, replacing Tobias Moers, and Roberto Fedeli was announced as the new chief technical officer.
In July 2022, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) invested in Aston Martin through a £78 million equity placement and a £575 million rights issue, gaining two board seats and a 16.7% stake after the rights issue.
In September 2022, Chinese automaker Geely acquired a 7.6% stake in Aston Martin.
In December 2022, Lawrence Stroll and the Yew Tree consortium increased their stake in Aston Martin to 28.29%.
In May 2023, Geely increased its stake in Aston Martin to 17%, becoming the third-largest shareholder, following the Yew Tree consortium and the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund.
In June 2023, Aston Martin signed an agreement with Lucid Motors to supply electric motors, powertrains, and battery systems for its upcoming electric cars, in exchange for cash payments and a 3.7 percent stake in the company.
In September 2023, the Yew Tree consortium increased their stake in Aston Martin by 3.27% to 26.23%.
In October 2023, Aston Martin announced its return to compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA SportsCar Championship in 2025.
In March 2024, Aston Martin announced Adrian Hallmark as its new CEO beginning 1 October 2024, replacing Amedeo Felisa.
In April 2024, Aston Martin announced it would delay the production of its first electric vehicle to 2027.
In September 2024, Aston Martin issued a profit warning, citing a decline in demand in China.
In March 2024, Aston Martin announced Adrian Hallmark as its new CEO beginning 1 October 2024.
In November 2024, Aston Martin issued another profit warning following a minor delay in deliveries of the Valiant model, announcing plans to issue new shares and debt totaling £210 million.
In February 2025, CEO Adrian Hallmark announced the company would again push back production of its first electric vehicle to 2030.
On 31 March 2025, the Yew Tree Consortium is set to inject an additional £52.5 million into Aston Martin by purchasing 75 million shares at 70 pence per share, increasing its stake to 33%.
In March 2021, Aston Martin stated the company plans on building electric vehicles by 2025.
In October 2023, Aston Martin announced that it would compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA SportsCar Championship in 2025.
In April 2024, the company said it would push back production of its first electric vehicle to 2027.
In February 2025, CEO Adrian Hallmark announced the company would again push back production of its first electric vehicle to 2030.
In late 2020, Aston Martin was involved in a controversy after the UK's declaration to end the sale of combustion engine vehicles by 2030.
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