Aston Martin already uses a number of components from Mercedes-AMG, including the brand’s cornerstone 4.0-liter V-8. Soon, the brand will also rely on Lucid for key components in an upcoming electric platform. Now, that parts-sharing relationship will also grow to include Geely.
Specifically, Aston Martin development chief Roberto Fedeli tells Autocar that the brand plans to rely on Geely to supply both seats and HVAC systems to upcoming models. That, in theory, reduces the work required from Aston Martin themselves over the course of developing a new car, a substantial benefit when the brand plans to create replacements for its current front-engined sports cars, a new mid-engined supercar, and an EV platform at the same time.
The goal is to get new cars on the road faster. By building new supply chains that rely less on new development and more on existing work from major automotive partners, Aston Martin can simplify the jobs of both designing and assembling a new model. As Geely also owns Polestar and Lotus, finding seats ready for a performance car should be relatively easy. Considering seats have become far more complicated and expensive, with expensive-to-certify side airbags and massage functions inflating the cost, this should cut costs and increase margins.
This is a big part of CEO Lawrence Stroll’s plan to turn around the company, work that Stroll tells Autocar means he “should be knighted for what [he has] done.” In addition to re-structuring the brand’s road-going aspirations, Stroll has also invested heavily in growing what is now the Aston Martin F1 team. Lead driver Fernando Alonso has six podiums through eight races since joining Aston Martin at the beginning of this year. In the same time, Stroll’s son Lance has just one finish better than fifth.
Keyword: Aston Martin Will Borrow Parts From Geely, Too