At a time Aston Martin is building anticipation of its return to F1 by revisiting its glorious motorsport heritage, some believe the project could be forced off track by a Chinese consortium that wishes to buy the manufacturer.

East Money, a Chinese financial website claims that BYD (Build Your Dreams) Auto Company, the Xi'an based company which produces cars, buses, electric bicycles, forklifts and is the largest supplier of rechargeable batteries in the world, is seeking to buy Aston Martin in a bid to expand into the European electric car market.

It is already involved with Daimler - which has a stake in Aston Martin - as Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co., Ltd, which as Denza specialises in luxury electric cars.

Putting 2 and 2 together to make 5, it is being claimed that should BYD buy Aston Martin, and move fully into the electric vehicle market, continuing to participate in a race series powered by fossil fuels would make little sense.

"Lawrence Stroll described the rumour as 'absolute bullshit and totally untrue', the F1 team's Chief Communications Officer told Pitpass.

"He says he couldn't be more excited about, and sincerely believes in, the team's long-term future success."

LATEST NEWS

more news >

LATEST IMAGES

galleries >

Click to go to the main galleries section

READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Alisissa, 02/02/2021 13:50 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 02/02/2021 13:57)

"This comment was removed by an administrator as it was judged to have broken the site's posting rules and etiquette."

Rating: Neutral (0)

2. Posted by Alisissa, 02/02/2021 13:50 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 02/02/2021 13:58)

"This comment was removed by an administrator as it was judged to have broken the site's posting rules and etiquette."

Rating: Neutral (0)

3. Posted by Alisissa, 02/02/2021 13:49 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 02/02/2021 13:58)

"This comment was removed by an administrator as it was judged to have broken the site's posting rules and etiquette."

Rating: Neutral (0)

4. Posted by kenji, 02/02/2021 13:15

"@ F! Yank...Thank you for the offer of a beer but surely if you are to be a guest in this country it would be me who would be buying the beers!!! I do very much want to see AM do well. I have always desired an AM of my own and I could afford one if push came to shove but it would be hard to justify ATPIT. They are truly magnificent cars and are a symbol of great British motor craft at it's best. I was never a fan of Force India/Racing Point especially last year when they managed to cheat their way onto the grid. However I presume that that is in the past and that AM shows the way forward."

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

5. Posted by F1 Yank, 01/02/2021 18:14 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 02/02/2021 13:58)

"Nice write up Kenji, If I ever get to the Outback (and I would like to at one point of my life.) I will buy you a four X! I agree this "Chinese Whispering" is something to take note of and place under serious scrutiny as you detailed below. Unfortunately according to many undesirables in the "power" seats, money is the ultimate influencer. They will overlook what is actually happening so their stakeholders see a bigger number when they get their statements. I hope Aston Martin F1 will be a strong team this season. Who knows how the selling of the conglomerate Aston Martin will actually affect the F1 program. If it does switch back to Racing Point!"

Rating: Positive (1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

6. Posted by kenji, 31/01/2021 23:35

"Goodness me...not another Chinese whisper! It is almost impossible to ignore the serious inroads into business acquisition and control being made by the Chinese. Daily revelations are 'de rigeur' for the press on a global scale and when the actual scope is carefully considered sends a cold shiver down the spine. For the sake of the British motorsport followers one can only hope that AM remains in the hands of the current owners. Here in Australia the entire Chinese modus operandi is under deep and extensive scrutiny and rightfully so. Just last week it was revealed that upwards of some 300+ of our top scientists in our top universities have been secretly employed by the Chinese Govt and drawing down substantial financial rewards for doing so. It was also revealed that these same scientists who successfully developed new ideas/concepts were required to patent/lodge the IP in China!! "

Rating: Positive (1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

7. Posted by Superbird70, 31/01/2021 22:42

"He did say he wanted this to be a team for everyone. Just imagine the proud Aston Martin forklift drivers at the Apple plant in Chengdu having drag races at midnight."

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

8. Posted by The stogie, 31/01/2021 18:34

"Methinks he doth protest too much!!"

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

9. Posted by trackrecords, 30/01/2021 23:49

"As the man who made the Michael Kors brand a massive success and equally made him a massive amount of money, I can't see Stroll selling AML when it's half baked. Surely the object is to really build-up the business to be worth so much more and thereby making a huge profit on the investment. Not that I'm speaking from experience of such things - just now and then my Economics A-level has to be useful sometimes..."

Rating: Positive (1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

10. Posted by BrightonCorgi, 30/01/2021 15:56

"I hope Stroll and AML stay focused and continue on the roadmap they have planned. BYD, if serious will still want or even have to pay more if Stroll's plans are a success. Daimler is still hot for AML, but needs to see more success in sales and racing before their bean counters will green light the investment."

Rating: Positive (1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

"Absolute bullshit" says Stroll of Chinese whispers

LATEST NEWS

RELATED ARTICLES

LATEST IMAGES

POST A COMMENT

Post your comment

READERS COMMENTS

Share this page