The Luxury Carmaker Releases Profit Warning Amid US Tariff Challenges and Requests Official Assistance
The automaker has attributed a profit warning to Donald Trump's tariffs, while simultaneously calling on the UK government for greater active assistance.
The company, producing its vehicles in Warwickshire and south Wales, revised its earnings forecast on Monday, marking the second such downgrade this year. The firm expects deeper losses than the earlier estimated £110m deficit.
Seeking Government Support
Aston Martin expressed frustration with the British leadership, telling shareholders that despite having engaged with officials on both sides, it had productive talks directly with the US administration but required greater initiative from UK ministers.
It urged UK officials to safeguard the needs of niche automakers like Aston Martin, which create thousands of jobs and contribute to regional finances and the broader UK automotive supply chain.
Global Trade Impact
The US President has shaken the worldwide markets with a trade war this year, heavily impacting the car sector through the introduction of a 25% tariff on 3rd April, in addition to an previous 2.5% levy.
During May, the US president and Keir Starmer reached a deal to limit tariffs on 100,000 British-made vehicles annually to 10 percent. This rate came into force on 30th June, coinciding with the final day of Aston Martin's Q2.
Trade Deal Concerns
Nonetheless, Aston Martin expressed reservations about the bilateral agreement, stating that the implementation of a US tariff quota mechanism adds additional complications and limits the group's capacity to accurately forecast earnings for the current fiscal year-end and possibly quarterly from 2026 onwards.
Other Factors
The carmaker also cited weaker demand partially because of increased potential for supply chain pressures, especially after a recent cyber incident at a major UK automotive manufacturer.
UK automotive sector has been rattled this year by a digital breach on Jaguar Land Rover, which prompted a production freeze.
Market Reaction
Shares in the company, listed on the LSE, dropped by over 11 percent as markets opened on Monday at the start of the week before recovering some ground to stand down 7%.
The group sold one thousand four hundred thirty vehicles in its third quarter, falling short of earlier projections of being roughly equal to the one thousand six hundred forty-one cars sold in the same period the previous year.
Future Plans
Decline in sales comes as the manufacturer prepares to launch its flagship hypercar, a mid-engine supercar priced at approximately $1 million, which it hopes will increase profits. Deliveries of the vehicle are expected to start in the final quarter of its fiscal year, though a projection of about 150 units in those final quarter was below earlier estimates, due to technical setbacks.
The brand, well-known for its appearances in James Bond films, has started a evaluation of its future cost and spending plans, which it indicated would likely result in lower capital investment in engineering and development versus earlier forecasts of about £2bn between its 2025 and 2029 financial years.
The company also informed shareholders that it does not anticipate to achieve profitable cash generation for the second half of its present fiscal year.
UK authorities was contacted for a statement.