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Aston Martin

The British luxury car maker behind James Bond's DB5 — still building some of the world's most desirable sports cars

Active — Aston Martin is a British luxury sports car maker, founded in 1913 and forever associated with James Bond's DB5. It remains an active brand, racing in Formula 1 and producing high-end cars, despite a turbulent financial history.

Aston Martin is a British luxury sports car manufacturer founded in 1913. It is one of the most storied names in motoring, celebrated for elegant grand tourers and the timeless DB5 that became James Bond's signature car.

Aston Martin's history is one of glamour and turbulence. It has survived multiple bankruptcies and ownership changes across a century, each time reinventing itself. In recent years the company has produced a new generation of sports cars, returned to Formula 1, and become a publicly traded brand.

Today Aston Martin is an active luxury marque, competing in F1 and selling high-performance road cars. It remains a symbol of British motoring excellence, even as it navigates the shifting economics of the modern luxury car market.

Quick facts

Founded
1913, United Kingdom
Icon
James Bond's DB5
Famous for
Elegant GT cars
Returned to F1
Recent era
Status
Active luxury marque
Location
Gaydon, England
Legacy
Symbol of British motoring glamour

Lineage — where the name went

Aston Martin's ownership chain, from David Brown's 1947 rescue through receivership and Ford to the London flotation and the shareholder groups of the 2020s.

  1. 1947 — Aston Martin acquired by David Brown Limited (bought by the Huddersfield gear and machine-tool maker)
  2. 1947 — David Brown Limited acquired Lagonda (Lagonda's engine went into the DB cars)
  3. 1972 — Aston Martin acquired by Company Developments (David Brown cleared the debts and handed the company over for £101)
  4. 1972 — Company Developments appointed William Willson (chaired the Birmingham consortium)
  5. 1975 — Aston Martin was succeeded by Aston Martin Lagonda Limited (the receiver sold the business in April 1975 and it re-formed under the new name)
  6. 1981 — Aston Martin Lagonda Limited acquired by Pace Petroleum (Pace Petroleum and CH Industries took joint 50-50 control)
  7. 1981 — Pace Petroleum appointed Victor Gauntlett (executive chairman of Aston Martin)
  8. 1987 — Aston Martin Lagonda Limited acquired by Ford Motor Company (75 per cent at first, with the rest acquired by the early 1990s)
  9. 2007 — Aston Martin Lagonda Limited acquired by The 2007 buying consortium (£475 million; Ford kept a stake worth about £40 million)
  10. 2012 — Aston Martin Lagonda Limited acquired by Investindustrial (37.5 per cent bought from Investment Dar in a £150 million capital increase)
  11. 2013 — Aston Martin Lagonda Limited acquired by Mercedes-Benz Group (an initial 5 per cent alongside the engine and electrical systems deal)
  12. 2018 — Aston Martin Lagonda Limited rebranded as Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc (renamed for the London Stock Exchange listing on 3 October 2018)
  13. 2020 — Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc acquired by Yew Tree Consortium (£182 million for 16.7 per cent, with Lawrence Stroll as chairman)
  14. 2022 — Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc acquired by Saudi Public Investment Fund (16.7 per cent through a placing and rights issue)
  15. 2022 — Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc acquired by Geely (7.6 per cent at first, raised to 17 per cent in May 2023)
  16. 2023 — Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc acquired by Lucid Motors (a 3.7 per cent stake issued as part payment for electric drivetrain technology)

Entities in this tree: Aston Martin (company, 1913); David Brown Limited (company, 1860); Lagonda (company); Company Developments (company); William Willson (person); Aston Martin Lagonda Limited (company, 1975); Pace Petroleum (company); Victor Gauntlett (person); Ford Motor Company (company); The 2007 buying consortium (company, 2007); Investindustrial (company); Mercedes-Benz Group (company); Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc (company, 2018); Yew Tree Consortium (company); Saudi Public Investment Fund (company); Geely (company); Lucid Motors (company)

Sources

  1. Aston Martin - Wikipedia — Wikipedia (2026-09-05)
  2. Aston Martin history and models — Aston Martin (2026-09-05)

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