LONDON: Aston Martin’s immediate priorities will be restarting manufacturing and launching production of its crucial first sport utility vehicle, its new boss, Canadian businessman and Formula 1 team owner Lawrence Stroll, said today.
“In the midst of the most challenging environment, globally, that any of us have ever experienced, all of my and the management team’s energies will now be dedicated to building on the inherent strengths of the company,” Stroll, now the company’s executive chairman, said in a statement.
While the coronavirus pandemic could dent demand, the company says its order book "remains significant,” including over 2,000 commitments for the DBX SUV. The company is banking on the US$189,000 (RM829,000) DBX selling in higher volumes than the stylish sports cars made famous in the James Bond movies.
Deliveries of the DBX are planned to begin in summer. It will compete with prestige brands like Lamborghini’s Urus and the Bentley Bentayga, which have already established themselves in the ultra-luxury SUV market. — Additional reporting by Bloomberg
