Aston Martin’s Strategy to Take On Ferrari: Hire Ferrari Engineers
10-06-17, 12:28 PM
#1
Aston Martin’s Strategy to Take On Ferrari: Hire Ferrari Engineers
Aston Martin's building a mid-engine sports car to take on the 488 GTB, and it's being engineered by some of Ferrari's brightest minds.
Aston Martin is on a roll right now with new product launches. The company recently announced it will build a mid-engine supercar to compete with the Ferrari 488. How will CEO Andy Palmer ensure his company's newest car can go toe-to-toe with the world-class Ferrari? Simple: Hire Ferrari engineers.
In an interview with Matthew Askari at Autoblog, Palmer was asked how he'll ensure Aston's mid-engine supercar will compete with the Ferrari 488 GTB. His solution is simple, but brilliant.
So basically, Palmer just hired some of the top minds behind the 488 to work under him and design Aston's upcoming competitor. As Autoblog reports, there's Max Szwaj, former head of innovation and body structures at Ferrari and Maserati, who is now vice president and chief technical officer at Aston, as well as Joerg Ross, former head of advanced engines, now responsible for powertrain engineering.
In an interview with Matthew Askari at Autoblog, Palmer was asked how he'll ensure Aston's mid-engine supercar will compete with the Ferrari 488 GTB. His solution is simple, but brilliant.
Well, to start with, you recruit from Ferrari the head of body structures, and the head of powertrains. I've now got three of Ferrari's key guys. And really, it's a big compliment to Ferrari. [The 488 GTB] is the defining car in its segment, and it's really, really good. And those three guys now work for me.
10-09-17, 10:05 PM
#2
Brilliant!!!! Now will they have the cash to take on Ferrari is the real question. Ferrari is basically a money printing machine, they actually make way more money licensing their brand than they do selling cars. I'm talking about merchandise like Ferrari towels, hats, t-shirts, coats, luggage, watches, etc.
Its like George Lucas and Star Wars, he never got rich from the movies, he became rich because Fox was stupid enough to give him 100% of the money from licensing and merchandising. Same thing with Ferrari, they make enough money to where they are pretty much an autonomous unit of Fiat, its not like Lamborghini who are fed from the parent VW corporate teate(which means they are well fed)
Aston Martin has been operating at a loss for a while now, it will be interesting to see how deep the current private equity investors pockets are. I think its a couple of Kuwatti companies own most of Aston Martin, an English private equity firm owns about a third, and Mercedes now owns a 5% stake as well.
Its like George Lucas and Star Wars, he never got rich from the movies, he became rich because Fox was stupid enough to give him 100% of the money from licensing and merchandising. Same thing with Ferrari, they make enough money to where they are pretty much an autonomous unit of Fiat, its not like Lamborghini who are fed from the parent VW corporate teate(which means they are well fed)
Aston Martin has been operating at a loss for a while now, it will be interesting to see how deep the current private equity investors pockets are. I think its a couple of Kuwatti companies own most of Aston Martin, an English private equity firm owns about a third, and Mercedes now owns a 5% stake as well.
10-10-17, 02:48 PM
#3
Pole Position
Brilliant!!!! Now will they have the cash to take on Ferrari is the real question. Ferrari is basically a money printing machine, they actually make way more money licensing their brand than they do selling cars. I'm talking about merchandise like Ferrari towels, hats, t-shirts, coats, luggage, watches, etc.
Its like George Lucas and Star Wars, he never got rich from the movies, he became rich because Fox was stupid enough to give him 100% of the money from licensing and merchandising. Same thing with Ferrari, they make enough money to where they are pretty much an autonomous unit of Fiat, its not like Lamborghini who are fed from the parent VW corporate teate(which means they are well fed)
Aston Martin has been operating at a loss for a while now, it will be interesting to see how deep the current private equity investors pockets are. I think its a couple of Kuwatti companies own most of Aston Martin, an English private equity firm owns about a third, and Mercedes now owns a 5% stake as well.
Its like George Lucas and Star Wars, he never got rich from the movies, he became rich because Fox was stupid enough to give him 100% of the money from licensing and merchandising. Same thing with Ferrari, they make enough money to where they are pretty much an autonomous unit of Fiat, its not like Lamborghini who are fed from the parent VW corporate teate(which means they are well fed)
Aston Martin has been operating at a loss for a while now, it will be interesting to see how deep the current private equity investors pockets are. I think its a couple of Kuwatti companies own most of Aston Martin, an English private equity firm owns about a third, and Mercedes now owns a 5% stake as well.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Hoovey689
Car Chat
2
07-19-13 12:43 PM