Purchasing power
Aston Martin should continue to benefit from Fords global purchasing power, an executive linked with one of the unsuccessful bidders for Aston Martin told Automotive News Europe.
The executive saw confidential documents relating to the sale that included an agreement to continue preferential Ford purchasing terms.
Said Eric Wallbank, an auto analyst at Ernst & Youngs London office: Whatever sourcing leverage there was is likely to be retained.
Under Ford, Aston Martin conducted its own purchasing but enjoyed the backing of a large organization.
Many of Aston Martins components were likely to be unique and therefore still expensive, even under Ford, noted Wallbank.
But suppliers like to provide parts to premium automakers as it showcases their technology, he said. So Aston Martin should not face any problems.
On March 12, Aston Martin owner Ford announced it had agreed to sell the carmaker to a consortium of investors led by David Richards, founder of UK-based road and race car engineering company Prodrive.
Aston Martin is valued at £479 million (about 700 million).
The carmaker had been part of Fords Premier Automotive Group since 1999. Ford has controlled Aston Martin since 1987, but it was only in the mid-1990s that the sports car maker began to integrate its purchasing and vehicle development processes more closely with Fords.
The US automaker will retain a £40 million stake in Aston Martin.
Ernst & Youngs Wallbank is optimistic about Aston Martins prospects, but worries about the carmakers ability to refresh its lineup.
The costliest changes are likely to be those driven by safety and emissions legislation, he said.
Aston Martins Waters said that the British luxury brands dedicated engineering team and design studio at its Gaydon, England, headquarters would be capable of developing new vehicles as a stand-alone organization.
And Aston Martin will continue to have access to the shared Ford Motor-owned test track in Gaydon. It will also be able to use former sister brand Volvos crash-test facilities in Sweden, Waters said.
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