patrick_y
[PuristSPro Moderator]
33572
Mercedes isn't cash rich right now...
Mercedes could do a stock takeover, but they're not cash rich right now. And they're bleeding money due to EV R&D. Geely, the Chinese company that's heavily invested in Mercedes-Benz was at one point in a good position to acquire Aston Martin, but probably didn't think it made financial sense. But I don't know if Geely can pull it off nowadays.
Aston Martin DBX
Just caught this silver DBX at an intersection in Los Angeles (Sunset and Barrington), making a left turn right in front of my stopped vehicle. I have been seeing them on the streets with increasing frequency over the past year, and sincerely hope that th...
Ugh. So not a fan.
And as far as AM stockholders are concerned, most aren't happy with the sales performance of the SUV. It's a distant 4th place behind the Bentayga, Urus, and Cullinan.
That's a given....
I simply haven't checked what the sales numbers are relative to what the company itself was expecting them to be.... I'll look into it now actually. Cheers, Filip
It's a big percentage of AM sales.
Without the DBX, the company would be losing even more money! 2021 had a positive EBITDA but still a net loss after depreciation and interest. DBX is around 20% of the ultra luxury SUV market, but analysts were expecting it to be close to the Bentayga mar...
Thanks for the stats.
You know I love the company dearly, I truly hope that with this new ownership they can at least achieve financial sustainability, including the potential takeover by Mercedes-Benz. I, for one, would not be against that happening if it meant the long-term ...
Mercedes isn't cash rich right now...
Mercedes could do a stock takeover, but they're not cash rich right now. And they're bleeding money due to EV R&D. Geely, the Chinese company that's heavily invested in Mercedes-Benz was at one point in a good position to acquire Aston Martin, but probabl...
I don't think Geely would be....
the right fit for them anyway.... Obviously, they're a highly specific company (even more so than the likes of niche brands the VW Group owns and operates), and certainly more idiosyncratic than any of the BMW or Asian car manufacturer parent and subsidia...
Well, Geely already owns a portion of AM indrectly.
Geely owns a substantial portion of Daimler AG, which owns a portion of Aston Martin Lagonda. So Geely already has some ownership of AML. Although Geely is much more of a silent partner whereas AMG and Mercedes-Benz are more active partners.
Oh! Right!
This one does carry his initials! DBX! In my mind I just call it the Aston Martin SUV. And that also means that David Brown doesn't get credit for the Vanquish! Since there's no "DB" prefix!
You gotta admit though....
Vanquish is easily among the coolest product names ever devised - in any product category !!
Hahahaha....
I wonder though if he could have ever envisioned the global transportation marketplace as it is now - primarily consumed by huge Sport Utility Vehicles!! Aston were admittedly next to last to get in on the 'craze'.... Ferrari is the only outlier left in t...
Seven times bankruptcy wasn't enough?
I remember Andy Palmer, at a Silicon Valley breakfast meeting, telling everyone proudly, that Aston Martin had gone bankrupt exactly 007 times! Just like they supply equipment to the spy agency. He was an interesting fella. Very honest about how Aston Mar...
On that,
I wholeheartedly agree. He is an indisputably competent and passionate executive, the timing of his brief engagement with AML simply wasn't at all favorable to him and his colleagues....
Not the design??
I honestly marvel at how sports-car like they managed to make such a large vehicle look! It's actually my favorite of the current generation of Astons LoL ....
The engine is from AMG.
Funny thing, the turbocharged AMG engines sound better than the turbocharged Ferrari engines. I drove a Ferrari California T with the turbocharged 3.9 liter and I was so disappointed with the sound. A C63 AMG turbocharged was more emotional sounding!
Oh yes,
they do sound extraordinarily well for a forced induction engine! MB truly developed their 'game' in that context to the absolute maximum possible....
And it makes sense...
Ferrari is a small company with a small and extremely passionate team of Italian engineers. Mercedes Benz is a huge company with a large team of German engineers and a huge R&D budget. Of course they're going to make a great product that will probably che...
I generally don’t like the look of SUVs but I like that one.
Thanks for the pictures.
LoL x)
We then pretty much have every possible impression and opinion under the sun xD - what an oddly polarizing vehicle the DBX turns out to be! Hugely entertained reading your comments! Cheers, Filip
Let's hope they updated that hideous Garmin GPS....
I love AMs for their beautiful lines, interiors but not sure if they keep up with infotainment system and reliability.
Definitely not a Garmin,
simply an older Mercedes Benz infotainment software given their technology collaboration with MB, and the 12% (or so) stake that MB currently holds in AML. This is postulated to rise to 20% foreseeably, with some industry insiders claiming Mercedes could ...
It’s a very nice suv! Though I don’t know if value vs dollars it’s worth.
Imho not owning the type of customer that buys the AM, Ferrari and mclaren (which I I’ve seen a lot in person) have a secondary suv for family , I am not sure how many people will go for it. The Royce rolls is luxury and bentyaga as well, the urus I don’t...
Objectively,
it's very hard to justify the price tag, of course.... Go buy a top-spec Cayman, Stelvio, even higher-end non-European SUVs from Ford, Hyundai etc.... One really has to be an 'Aston' person to commit to spending $300K on an SUV, no matter how well-made it...
Not a fan......
Im not a fan - my heart has always been with the V12V - even to the exclusion of a wonderful DB4 and V8 Virage Volante Widebody. However, prejudice aside for low lying high-powered 2-seat Coupes, the AM fan base and Owners Club (Red Trouser W@nkeritis set...
The V12V is awesometacular,
and totally legendary . Yes, I'm well aware of the negative reception that the original SUV concept received in the late 00s! Funnily enough, I've been a member of the ' Red Trouser W@nkeritis' brigade since 2008 . I do agree that it would have been more ...