Aston Martin about to be sold

[pammy]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6433349.stm

 

[grober]

Sounds hopeful, and at least a British company will fronting/running the operation even the money is coming from overseas. I'm just not sure if the world motoring "climate " is going to be conducive to selling big engined performance cars in the future. Aston Martin has had a very checkered past and if Ford couldn't turn them around sufficiently to want to keep them??? heres a picture of the Prodrive AM racer--more on the prodrive website.

 

[turborevs]

Aston make some seriously good cars, would be a shame to see them go up the wall

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I reckon Dave Richards may well be the right man for the job, but his role and the amount of time he gives it post-acquisition will heavily influence how successful the "new" business would be.

That said, I hear his consultancy arm has some good people aboard, which might be well placed to work on moving Aston forward. Whether those consultants have the necessary business skills - rather than engineering skills - will be interesting to see.

 

[imadoofus]

and if Ford couldn't turn them around sufficiently to want to keep them???

As I understand it, Ford did turn them around, and they're seling because it's the only bit of the 'empire' that's worth anything - all the other divisions are losing money.

PJ

 

[prprandall51]

As I understand it, Ford did turn them around, and they're seling because it's the only bit of the 'empire' that's worth anything - all the other divisions are losing money.

PJ

Yes - and one other thing. The other Premier Auto Group companies are to embedded with Ford's R & D and platform sharing to be sold off without a great deal of complications. AM was - luckily - operating outside of the Ford group in terms of technology. The top man at AM even had all the Ford parts bin items removed from the current line up, though (as those parts included an air vent from the Ford Ka) I don't blame him for that.

Philip

 

[Gucci]

I reckon we should have a whip round and see if we can get it? Anyone else want to chip in? £999,999,995 left to find

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I reckon we should have a whip round and see if we can get it? Anyone else want to chip in? £999,999,995 left to find

I think Ford might be looking for someone to take it on as a viable business, rather than a bunch of enthusiasts thinking about how they can drive an Aston Martin on the cheap.

Nice idea though - where can I PayPal my fiver to!!??!!

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Just read an Autocar story on this, and it seems CEO Ulrich Bez will stay on, and Dave Richards will head-up a new supervisory board.

Good news if Bez does stay - I'd expected him to step down if rumours were true that he'd led an unsuccessfull bid.

Aston Martin is dead. Long live Aston Martin!

 

[Dave Lewis]

Good news if Bez does stay - I'd expected him to step down if rumours were true that he'd led an unsuccessfull bid.

wow, Bez has come a long way since his days dancing with the Happy Mondays.........

 

[pammy]

wow, Bez has come a long way since his days dancing with the Happy Mondays.........

lol

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

wow, Bez has come a long way since his days dancing with the Happy Mondays.........

And people thought all he could do was one dance and shake marraccas (spelling?)!!

By going on Big Brother I bet he expected to get on tele a bit more often rather than run a sports car company.