Aston Martin rides out the recession

The company is relying on a combination of its flexible VH vehicle architecture, a small-car partnership with Toyota, and component multitasking to see it into the future.

In the words of Engineering Director Ian Minards, Aston Martin is “riding the wave of economic recovery.” The metaphorical surfboard that is making it possible is the company's range of related models, each interlinked via technology (mainly engines and Aston's VH architecture) and high quality targets. But in hard economic times to be a small company with enhanced premium products might be thought to make it vulnerable.

Interviewed for AEI's 2008 European report, Minards said that Aston had an ability to adapt quickly to change. At that time, the global economic slide had yet to gain its initial momentum and there was no very clear sign of the brewing storm. But the ensuing two years of turmoil have tested each and every company in the automotive industry to extreme lengths, demanding great adaptability in every sense.