Faced with weaker-than-expected demand, customer automakers are the only ones rethinking their EV strategy. This week, Aston Martin showed that the brand’s first electric vehicle, originally scheduled for 2025, has been delayed by a year.
“Consumer demand [for electric vehicles], at the Aston Martin price point, is not what we imagined it would be two years ago,” chairman Lawrence Stroll told reporters. Instead, Stroll said, buyers were more interested in plug-in vehicles. in hybrid cars because, while they need a vehicle with some form of electric power, they also need to “have the smell, feel, and sound of a sports car. “
“We’ve solved that challenge [reducing demand for electric vehicles] and we’ll be offering some very important plug-in hybrids before we launch our full BEVs,” Stroll said. “So we’re going to have a full supplement of ICE, PHEV and BEV will last until the mid-2030s. “
Related: Aston Martin to offer a PHEV option in its styling lineup
Last summer, the head of Canada’s Aston revealed that the company is powered by four new electric vehicles, the first of which is expected to be unveiled in 2025. The company partnered with Lucid in a deal that gave the U. S. -based company the right to Lucid. A U. S. -backed electric vehicle backed by Saudi Arabia. It has acquired a 3. 7% stake in Aston in exchange for access to its powertrains for electric vehicles.
Aston is taking its first step towards a long-term electrification later this year with the launch of the production edition of Valhalla, a mid-engined supercar powered by AMG’s hybrid V8. But as a new Aston was born, the dreams of some others were definitely stifled by it. The company had planned to revive its Lagonda logo as a rival to Bentley and brought some luxury concepts before the pandemic, but Stroll, who came to Aston after plans were drawn up, says those dreams have been abandoned.