The electric Aston Martin might become and even more exclusive car with the British marque planning a limited run of cars. Aston Martin’s electric charge has suffered a hitch after cash-strapped investment partner LeECo pulled out of the project.
Aston Martin will build only 155 of its RapidE, about a third of the initial plan, and lean more heavily on Formula One engineering specialist Williams after the withdrawal of Chinese TV and smartphone vendor LeEco. The setback and Aston's response underscore the challenges and risks niche carmakers face as they scramble to address future demand for electrification from consumers and regulators. Without LeEco's backing, the sports carmaker, based in Gaydon, Warwickshire, is pushing ahead as sole investor in the electric car, after paring down production and pushing back the launch date to 2019.
Batteries will come from a new production facility built by a consortium led by Williams Advanced Engineering, the F1 team's technical division, with matched British government funding. Williams, which supplies power packs to the Formula E electric car racing series, also built the RapidE prototype unveiled in 2015.
The booking for the RapidE will commence next month and the car is expected to cost more that the Vantage V12. Above the RapidE, Aston's first full-production battery car will be an electric version of the DBX crossover. All electric DBX crossover would be unveiled in 2019 – expecting the similar greeting that the DB11 coupe received, with a little help from the latest Bond film.
