Nearly five years after killing the Rapide E, Aston Martin still has cold feet when it comes to EVs
- Aston Martin has reportedly decided to delay their previously announced EVs.
- The first model was slated to be launched in 2025, but it will now debut in late 2026 and be delivered to customers the following year.
- Aston Martin is now focusing on plug-in hybrids as their customers prefer ICE-powered models.
Last summer, Aston Martin inked a deal with Lucid and announced plans for a modular electric vehicle platform that would underpin four new models. These included everything from a crossover to a hypercar and the first EV was set to arrive in 2025.
That’s reportedly no longer the case as the models have been delayed by approximately two years. Speaking with Autocar, Aston Martin’s executive chairman said “We planned to launch at the end of 2025 and were ready to do so, but it seems there is a lot more hype in EVs, politically driven or whatever, than consumer demand, particularly at an Aston Martin price point.”
More: Aston Martin Joins Forces With Lucid To Power Its Future EVs
Lawrence Stroll added the EVs are “technically engineered and physically designed,” but their customers would rather have vehicles with internal combustion engines. As a result, Aston Martin is doubling down on plug-in hybrids.
This isn’t exactly shocking as, when the Lucid deal was announced, Aston Martin said they would “deliver its first plug-in hybrid – the mid-engined supercar Valhalla – in 2024.” The company added by 2026, “all-new Aston Martin model lines will feature an electrified powertrain option, with the long-term objective for its core range to be fully electrified by 2030.”
Fast forward to today and Stroll confirmed the plug-in hybrids will use Mercedes-sourced V8 engines. He also told Autocar to expect a hybridized V12.
The executive expects plug-in hybrid powertrains will be popular for at least a decade and they’ll enable ICE-powered models to live on. Speaking of which, Stroll said “… as long as we’re allowed to make ICE cars, we’ll make them.”
Needless to say, this isn’t the first time Aston Martin has walked back their electric vehicle ambitions. Nearly five years ago, the company introduced the “production ready” Rapide E at the 2019 Shanghai Motor Show. 155 units were slated to be built, but the car was axed at the last minute.
