A MAJOR British car brand is set to delay creating EVs and will continue make petrol models well into the next decade.
Aston Martin recently pushed back its plans to launch its first electric car in 2025 to 2027.
AlamyAn assembled Aston Martin Vanquish is raised up to have checks taken underneath the car.[/caption]
Aston Martin is an iconic British car brand
AlamyLawrence Stroll, executive chairman of Aston Martin[/caption]
Now, executive chairman Lawrence Stroll has said there will “always be demand” for combustion-engined cars – such as its V8 and V12 models.
Like its rivals, the 111-year-old manufacturer will have to grapple with a ban on new petrol or diesel cars in Britain from 2035.
But the motors boss pledged to keep selling them for as long as he is legally allowed to.
Stroll told Autocar: “For as long as we’re allowed to make ICE cars, we’ll make them.
“I think there will always be demand, even if it’s small.”
Aston Martin has developed a bespoke EV architecture and plans to launch four electric cars on it.
However, they won’t hit the market before 2027 after a reveal of the first model in late 2026.
The popular car manufacturer has since increased investments in plug-in hybrid technology, according to Stroll.
Stroll expects plug-in hybrids to be far more than a “bridging” technology and to remain on sale well into the middle of the 2030s and beyond.
Them motors are compelling for car makers like Aston for being able to offer electric-only running for urban driving and then huge amounts of performance elsewhere.
“They will last a lot longer than people thought even a year ago,” he said.
Stroll added: “We have all the products technically engineered and physically designed.
“We planned to launch at the end of 2025 and were ready to do so, but it seems there is a lot more hype in EVs, politically driven or whatever, than consumer demand, particularly at an Aston Martin price point.”
The company’s PHEV technology will be based around V8s, as customers aren’t keen on V6s, said Stroll.
But the V8 engines will still be sourced from Mercedes-AMG throughout the PHEV era.
Stroll added that Aston would add hybrid technology to its V12 too.
He said that demand for electric cars is particularly weak in the luxury segments, as Aston Martins were typically not “first” cars for their customers and used more for leisure.
Aston customers have told dealers that they want “sounds and smells” and favour ICE technology for their cars, according to Stroll.
The executive chairman also confirmed the Aston Martin Valhalla mid-engined supercar was on track to be revealed and delivered to the first customers by the end of this year.
The luxury British brand is looking to rival Porsche’s 911 lineup with an overhaul of its sports car offerings.
The V8 will be Aston’s first hybrid model and Stroll said the first full year of production was sold out.
The new car was dramatically unveiled from beneath a Union Jack in an introductory clip posted to X, while the manufacturer also released a glossy promo video featuring F1 legend Fernando Alonso.
It puts out a 3.5s 0-60mph time and a top speed of just a tick over 200mph.
Aston MartinAston Martin has unleashed the new V8 Vantage[/caption]“}]]