Aston Martin to open two dealerships in China, announces new race series
11/29/2007, 10:49 AM
By Drew Johnson
Aston Martin has announced that it will begin selling its cars in China. Marking the first move into China in the company’s 94 year history, Aston Martin will be partnering with GruppeM to setup two dealerships. The first will be in Shanghai — with a five car showroom — and the second will be located in Beijing — with a three car capacity.
“Aston Martin has been carefully monitoring the growth of the luxury sports car market in China,” Dr Ulrich Bez, Aston Martin’s Chief Executive Officer, said. “But it was vital that we found the right partner who not only understood Aston Martin’s brand values but also the luxury market. We are confident that GruppeM have the expertise and knowledge to help us develop Aston Martin in China.”
In addition to the two new dealerships, Aston Martin also announced a new one make race series for Asia — featuring a grid of 18 Aston Martin Vantage N24s — dubbed the Aston Martin Asia Cup. The series will consist of 12 races — from 30 minute sprints to endurance races — and will take place in China, Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore.
11/29, 10:54 AM
posted by:
jamaicandude
Old news really.
11/29, 10:54 AM
posted by:
CA36GTP
Yay?
11/29, 11:08 AM
posted by:
Mar Solo
Does this mean there will be a lot of wrecked Aston pictures showing up on LLN?
11/29, 11:19 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
…can’t wait for Speed to start coverage of that series.
11/29, 11:35 AM
posted by:
CA36GTP
I’ve never understood the appeal of one-make races. I can’t imagine something more boring.
11/29, 11:53 AM
posted by:
jonnycat
Comes down to skill in a one make race. No advantages usually make for a close race.
11/29, 11:55 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
…more boring would be an Aston Martin salesman in a 3 car showroom in Beijing.
11/29, 12:36 PM
posted by:
CTS DRIVER
that will be just as boring as nascar.
11/29, 12:38 PM
posted by:
Jazz
One make races allow manufacturers to gain racing experience and development w/o the car looking like crap against its competition. The only way you can compare a one make F430 race car to a Aston Martin race car would be by the lap times. Usually, having to explain that in a print ad or commercial takes too long and so has no marketing value.
But there has to be no doubt that the Asian countries in this column must have some rich mofos that Aston Martin is trying to target.
11/29, 1:18 PM
posted by:
moto-racer13
sign of the times, soon china will be one of those countries where the rarest exotics will be seen on the streets. Just a matter of time before parts of China will be as exclusive as Dubai and Monaco. I just hope China doesn’t dump all the US currency it owns because that will really mess up our economy. But I have a feeling one day China will do that just to mess us up and further their own economic lead. Not to mention all the US owned companies and factories located in China which the government could take over if they wish. They are ruthless and gaining more power each day, we better start being nice to them lol
11/29, 1:28 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
CTS: can any motorsport be as boring as NASCAR?
11/29, 2:13 PM
posted by:
CTS DRIVER
i saw high performance scooter racing on speed tv one day and it was stupid but strangely fascinating.
youy ever see the southern racing where they tow boats around the track, damn i love that ****.
11/29, 2:50 PM
posted by:
LP640
moto-racer13 i disagree with you i dont think parts of China will be anywhere near as exclusive as Dubai or Monaco. and what could be more boring than watching a redneck called ricky bobby going round and round in circles for hours on end i.e. NASCAR?????????
11/29, 3:37 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
The trick to watching a Nascar race is:
a) tape it
b) don’t watch the tape sober
c) have an air horn ready for every time Rusty Wallace says ‘driving his brains out’
11/29, 4:40 PM
posted by:
SwerveEarly
Evreybody is positioning themselves for big profits.
Hell if Buick can do it; anyone can be a success in China.
I hope prodrive turns Aston into a race 1st company like Ferrari and to a lesser extent Porsche. Racing is what pro-drive is all about. Let Petter Solberg design/develope a model.
12/01, 1:08 AM
posted by:
sharpie
“which the government could take over if they wish. They are ruthless and gaining more power each day, we better start being nice to them lol” – moto-racer13
Well, just spend more on military. The Taiwanese will welcome US ships with open arms.