Not sure how much truth is in this rumor if any, but Autocar is reporting that it's a possibility:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/ge...-martin-buyout

 

This would be ideal imo...

But I'd take it with a pinch of salt at this time.

Working in an automotive manufacturer, you won't believe how many unfounded, false rumors are circulated in the press...

 

This is exactly what I predicted would happen when the rumors of Merc/AMG having a "strategic partnership" with Aston started, make no mistake, they will own the entire company and Investindustial will walk away with a substantial profit.

 

Would be great if this happened !

 

yuck......there goes the neighborhood........

 

Yup.

 

I'd love to know what you'd say if another company, like maybe Ford, were rumored to be buying AM?

I find absurd the constant drone I hear from the same people, convinced that they KNOW how one company will influence AM upon ownership. I'm quite certain that you same people would have been exactly as dismissive and negative about the Ford purchase. And yet, look how that turned out.

I have no idea what AMG/MB ownership might do to AM. And neither do you.

 

I agree with this. Right now Aston needs a massive capital injection to be able to develop the next generation of cars. Only a big automotive company can do this for them at this point.

Look at what happened with Porsche / VW / Lamborghini / Audi / Bentley...

Or BMW / Mini / Rolls Royce...

Yes there's been plenty of unsuccessful mergers, but if you look, these cases were because the purchased company was utter crap.

 

In my opinion, someone will acquire AM in the next few years. The core value of AM is its beautiful design, a wonderful history and a small, loyal following. It is starting to run out of gas on its present platform.

Unfortunately, it cannot afford to fund new engines and a new platform. Whoever acquires it will want to build on its strengths and provide technology leadership to take AM into the next decade. Otherwise they will have squandered their investment.

There are only a handful of companies that have the capability and desire. MBZ would be one of them. Anyone will, however, have to reconcile the fact that the company has barely made a dime in 100 years.

 

The future could be looking bright for Aston! AMG engineering + Aston Martin design = win to me.

 

Me too👍

 

Ford brought manufacturing efficiencies and reliability to the table but in my opinion left AM to their own devices in terms of design and flavor. MB influence will, in my opinion, be much greater and AM will, I feel, lose its Britishishness. MB has no sense of style and if they try to have a hand in influencing AM's design it's game over. Daimler/Chrysler didn't go too well, did it? Anytime a British car company is merged with a non British company it loses its identity. My .02

 

While I can't speak for what "Britishness" is, Volkswagon/Audi sure did well with the Bentley brand, while RR seems to be languishing with BMW.

 

Ford brought a lot more than just that. Though I wonder how strong the complaints were when Ford took over?

I said it before and will say it again. If Aston continue down the path they are going they are doomed and will be closing their doors. Would you rather have the great Aston you know and love out of business or would you like the possibility of new money and racing experience up to F1 to help boost the company?

Either way, you have no idea what they will do so why assume the worst is to come? AMG have shown that they will make one offs with Pagani so why assume they wouldn't do something similar with Aston? The cup can be half full instead of being half empty.

 

I will reserve my judgement, whatever that's worth, until it happens. It will come down to the level of overlap between the two that will likely determine success. Ford did right by Aston, to be sure. MB didn't do well with Chrysler, but Fiat is. Very different scenarios to dissect appropriately.

And I don't believe that Tata has ruined Jag or Land Rover either, still very British and yet very modern. They are a very different company than MB, but hopefully the outcome would be the same were the companies to join.

See what I did there? I went with that oh-so-British sense of optimism for the whole deal.


Cheers
Kevin