The German automaker currently holds a five-percent stake in the British sports-car brand. The investment is part of a broader partnership involving engine sharing and other collaboration, fueling speculation that Daimler was moving toward a full acquisition.
“I don’t think we could do a better job running a 4,000-units-a-year company than Aston Martin’s management,” Zetsche told Automotive News.
As most global automakers continue to grow and conglomerate, analysts have speculated that Aston Martin — currently privately held — will come under increasing competitive pressure from other low-volume brands that benefit from high-volume platform architecture. The British company and its investors so far have not publicly hinted at any intention to seek a buyer.
Daimler’s AMG division is expected to develop and produce new engines that will be found under the hood of Aston’s next-generation Vantage. Separate rumors suggest the partnership will extend to other upcoming models, including a new SUV that will be built upon a Mercedes-Benz platform.
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