Aston Martin’s 4 new EVs will get Lucid-backed performance boost
Aston Martin will launch four new full-electric cars in four years starting in 2025 using technology from U.S. EV maker Lucid Motor to greatly enhance their performance.
Each of the four models will be additional to the current range, Aston Martin Chairman Lawrence Stroll said a media briefing at the company’s headquarters here after the company announced that it will source electric drive units and battery modules from Lucid.
Aston Martin is developing an all-new platform that will form the basis of its entire future electrified model range from hypercars to sports cars, GTs and SUVs as part of its objective for its core range to be fully electrified by 2030.
The drive units will include electric motors, invertors and transmissions, as well as the battery modules. They will be built in Lucid’s factory in Arizona.
When fitted to the Aston Martin platform, the Lucid drive unit will power the rear wheels, with separate electric motors powering the front axle.
Aston Martin said it would use up to four electric motors, surpassing the three motors used in high-performance Sapphire versions of the Lucid Air large sedan, which make “over 1200 hp,” according to Lucid.
The low height of the Lucid-supplied battery modules means that a future Aston Martin GT electric sports car would sit lower than the Vantage two-seater coupe, Aston Martin Chief Technology Officer Roberto Fedeli said
The modules would come supplied with cylindrical battery cells, which Lucid currently sources from either LG Chem, Samsung SDI or Panasonic.
Stroll said Aston Martin has been working with Lucid for a year. “Lucid represented far and away the best existing mature technology with the highest level of horsepower and smallest battery height,” he said.
Aston Martin and Lucid were encouraged to discuss working together by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, a shareholder in both companies, Stroll said, adding that Aston Martin was already in conversation with Lucid at that point.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, or PIF, owned about ~~49~~ (65) percent of Lucid as of March 31, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The fund owns about 18 percent of Aston Martin, according to a filing from last month.
Lucid will take a 3.7 percent stake in Aston Martin.
Aston Martin’s current technology partner Mercedes-Benz will continue to supply the company with electronic/electric architectures and V-8 engines but Aston Martin will not take the option of expanding its supply deal with Mercedes.
Mercedes will not increase its current 9 percent stake in Aston Martin.
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