ASTON MARTIN AND PRODRIVE

The car that is most synonomous with James Bond, Aston Martin, has been sold by the Ford Motor Company for NZD$1.3b to Prodrive thus placing it back into the hands of the British.

David Richards a former ralley driver and motorsport enthusiast along with financial backing from two Kuwaiti investment funds (Dar and Adeem) have taken ownership over Astin Marton after it was last sold to Ford in 1987. During its time with Ford we have seen the Vantage,Vanquish, the DB7 & DB9 the new DBS and the Rapide(still to be released). These are the flagship cars released over the past decade and have received much global interest and respect being listed by voters as the 'coolest brand' in Britain by the Superbrands organisation last year.

Aston Martin was set up in 1914 by Lionel Martin, later sold to it's more prominent owner in 1947 to David Brown (this is where the "DB") is derived from eg. DB5 which was used as the first James Bond car in the 1964 movie Goldfinger. Brown then sold up in 1972 where it dwindled until the early 80's when it was purchased by Victor Gauntlett whom then sold it to Ford in 1987 where it's spent the last 30 years. Today Aston Martin grosses 40 million pounds a year or operating profit and producing more cars than ever before with its state of the art facility in Gaydon, Warwickshire.

Richards whom left the WRC in 1981 formed Prodrive whom today employs staff around the world in excess of 1000 and in 1999 sold his 49% stake in the business to fund growth plans and along with his smile is absolutely pleased with his new acquisition. Prodrive also have 6 WRC titles to their name with Subaru and 5 british touring car championships with BNW, Alfa Romeo & Ford.

The growth at this point is to push the brand higher (not further...at this point) to put it along side the likes of Ferrari and Bentley. Most enthusists will say that they are already at that point.
They are continuing on the Ford initiative to push also in the more global markets opening in South Africa lastyear and in Melbourne just last week with another to open in Moscow in June 07. Also the concept 4-doorRapide is set now to go into production with production scheduled at 2000 a year over, and we still have the new Vanquish to be released where only 40 will be produced.

Aston Martin as when it was first founded, today still build each car by hand, Remarkable finishing touches and luxury only limited by imagination.