According to Automotive News, Aston Martin CEO Adrian Hallmark ordered the postponement of the pure electric vehicle project immediately after joining the company, which means that the company has postponed the launch of its first pure electric vehicle again.
In 2024, Hallmark resigned as CEO of Bentley and joined Aston Martin as CEO. On January 29, Hallmark told the media: "In the process of discussing whether I would join the company, I questioned the electrification strategy." Hallmark is worried that electric vehicle sales will be affected by changes in emissions regulations, and Aston Martin may affect financial performance by moving too fast.
"We are not resisting. We are just considering the legislative situation, and we are working hard to deal with it. We can't produce internal combustion engines, hybrids and electric vehicles at the same time, then determine the final viable products, and then stop producing unviable products. Everyone must be a winner."
Hallmark said that Aston Martin will launch "at least one" pure electric vehicle by 2030, but the plan to launch four electric vehicles by 2030 has been canceled. Last year, the company said it was working to get its first electric car on the market in 2026, which is later than earlier plans. However, the company will continue to work with US electric vehicle company Lucid, which will provide motors, inverters, transmissions and battery modules.
Aston Martin originally planned to launch its first electric car based on an existing model, and released a sketch suggesting a sports SUV model that would be lower than the existing DBX model. However, the company is now studying "other possibilities." However, Hallmark did not disclose further details.
Aston Martin will focus on offering plug-in hybrid sports cars, starting with a plug-in hybrid version of the mid-engined Valhalla supercar this year. Hallmark said the company will launch plug-in hybrid versions of front-engined models "as soon as possible", but did not specify a specific date or which models.
Aston Martin is closely watching the developments of Rolls-Royce. Rolls-Royce is far ahead of its ultra-luxury competitors in the electrification process. "We hope that (Rolls-Royce's electrification transformation) will succeed, because if they succeed, then there is a place for pure electric luxury cars."