[Aston Martin News] Aston Martin and Mercedes-AMG GmbH have confirmed a partnership deal that will see the two parties co-developing a range of bespoke V8 powerplants.
Since 2007, many of Aston Martin’s V8 and V12 engines were manufactured at Ford’s Cologne plant in Germany as part of a technological partnership with the Blue Oval that was to conclude at the end of 2013.
Rumours of a tie-up between the Gaydon-based firm and Mercedes-AMG GmbH subsidiary have been doing the rounds for some time, but it has now emerged that the agreement is now official.
Although the exact details of the agreement are yet to be finalised, it’s believed that the German firm will allow Aston Martin access to its resources in order to develop and produce a range of bespoke V8 powerplants.
In return, AMG will receive a 5 per cent stake in Aston Martin, joining such co-investors as Kuwaiti financial firm Adeem Investment and Italy’s Investindustrial private equity firm. A supply agreement between Mercedes-AGM GmbH, Daimler AG and Aston Martin is also believed to be part of the deal.
AM’s product development director Ian Minards declared, “We have selected AMG specifically as the basis for this powertrain development process.” Head of Mercedes-AMG GmbH Ola Källenius said “We are proud to work with Aston Martin and provide them with powertrain and e/e components for their forthcoming sports cars. This is proof of AMG’s technological and performance expertise and a real win-win situation for both sides.”
