Aston Martin is working on a new supply agreement with the Lucid Group. Under the proposed deal, Lucid would supply Aston Martin with its current and future powertrain and battery technologies, which will be at the center of Aston Martin’s new in-house EV platform.
This all-new bespoke platform will form the basis of the company’s future electrified model range; from hypercars to sports cars, GTs and SUVs. Aston Martin plans to launch a plug-in hybrid supercar called Valhalla in 2024, and to debut its first pure EV in 2025.
Aston Martin’s electrification program is a part of its Racing Green sustainability strategy, which calls for an investment of over £2 billion in both ICE and EV technologies over the next five years.
Aston Martin will have access to Lucid’s proprietary EV powertrain technology, including its high-performance twin motor unit, battery tech, and Wunderbox charging system. Aston says the benefits include exceptional battery system efficiency, inverter tech that controls the rate and efficiency of energy discharge and recuperation, and twin motor tech that facilitates infinitely tuneable four-wheel torque vectoring.
Aston will pay Lucid for its tech with a combination of cash payments and Aston Martin shares.
This supply deal is the first of its kind for Lucid.
Aston Martin has also formed partnerships with Mercedes-Benz, which provides the British automaker with powertrain and electric/electronic architectures; and Geely, which now owns 17% of Aston Martin.
Lawrence Stroll, Executive Chairman of Aston Martin, said: “The supply agreement with Lucid is a game-changer for the future EV-led growth of Aston Martin. Based on our strategy and requirements, we selected Lucid, gaining access to the industry’s highest performance and most innovative technologies for our future BEV products.
“Along with Mercedes-Benz, we now have two world-class suppliers to support the internal development and investments we are making to deliver our electrification strategy. With the recently announced long-term partnership with Geely, we will also gain the opportunity to access their range of technologies and components, as well as their deep expertise of the key strategic market of China.”
Roberto Fedeli, Chief Technology Officer of Aston Martin, said: “The proposed agreement with Lucid forms a significant pillar of our electrification strategy, providing Aston Martin with access to the industry’s leading powertrain and battery systems technology. Combined with our internal development, this will allow us to create a single bespoke BEV platform suitable for all future Aston Martin products, all the way from hypercars to sports cars and SUVs. In addition, we will continue to expand our in-house powertrain capabilities.”
Sources: Aston Martin, Electrek
