AML - NEW UK SALES

[Jon39]

williamp said:

...and that they now have 2 factories too. Does that number include the specials and continuation models too?

Yes. The figures are a compilation of every new Aston Martin vehicle registration (therefore would include dealer demonstrators, AML press cars, staff cars, etc.).

We must always remember that it is UK only, so export progress remains unknown until each quarterly results announcement by AML.

I have never been able to discover similar published registration figures for other countries. Perhaps they sit behind pay walls, or remain within the motor industry. The UK does seem to be quite open regarding data (domestic property sale prices being one example).

[Jon39]

Aston Martin - UK New Registrations November.

2017 = 75
2018 = 86
2019 = 125
2020 = 65
2021 = 63

You will recall why sales were higher in 2019.

In the UK there are 16 AM dealers. The average sale for each dealer in November, was therefore about one new car per week.

[williamp]

Part of me likes the small numbers- like the 90s, spotting an Aston is a rare delight, a real ttreat. Even in central london, an Aston was rare compared to lotus, porsche or ferrari. The same asalambo, perhaps...

But then again, they need to sell cars to make money. I hope the build number show a healthy number and hence profit, even if they are overall overseas

[Neil1300r]

Jon39 said:

Aston Martin - UK New Registrations November.

2017 = 75
2018 = 86
2019 = 125
2020 = 65
2021 = 63

You will recall why sales were higher in 2019.

In the UK there are 16 AM dealers. The average sale for each dealer in November, was therefore about one new car per week.

All car manufacturers are struggling at the moment, there is a worldwide shortage of the computer chips used in all modern cars. Each car requires over a thousand chips

[AstonZagato]

Neil1300r said:

Jon39 said:

Aston Martin - UK New Registrations November.

2017 = 75
2018 = 86
2019 = 125
2020 = 65
2021 = 63

You will recall why sales were higher in 2019.

In the UK there are 16 AM dealers. The average sale for each dealer in November, was therefore about one new car per week.

All car manufacturers are struggling at the moment, there is a worldwide shortage of the computer chips used in all modern cars. Each car requires over a thousand chips

Not sure I have figured this out completely. A mate went into an Audi dealer in Europe to buy a Q3RS. More than a year's wait, he was told. He pointed at the one on the showroom floor - "what about that one?" He could not only buy it but there was a 15% discount. Either there's a shortage or cars are difficult to sell from stock. Both are unlikely to be true.

[pbe624]

Shortage of chips not limited to high performance cars. From experience: waiting time for new VW Caddy: 13 months, Mercedes A class: 12 months etc... . Also heard from various dealers it will not improve in 2022. Hence the rise in prices for second hand cars...
F

[Jon39]

The UK Registration figures have now been published for December 2021.

Aston Martin (UK only)
December 2020 = 89 cars. Total for 2020 = 876.
December 2021 = 77 cars. Total for 2021 = 1048.


McLaren stood out (UK only)
December = 11 cars (2020=22). Total for 2021 = 326 cars (2020 = 346)


WORLDWIDE ASTON MARTIN SALES

Year		Sports/GT	SUV	Total
2000		800*		800*
2001		1470		1470
2002		1462		1462
2003		1514		1514
2004		2400		2400
2005		4400		4400
2006		6500		6500
2007		7281		7281
2008		5800		5800
2009		3875		3875
2010		4184		4184
2011		4200*		4200*
2012		3876		3876
2013		4200		4200
2014		3661		3661
2015		3615		3615
2016		3687		3687
2017		5098		5098
2018		6441		6441
2019		5862		5862
2020		1878	1516	3394
2021		3181	3001	6182

* approx

[nickv12]

Third highest year on record! The DBX is starting to come into its own.

I know, I know… more progress to make. But there are good signs.

[KevinBird]

Over 7,000 in '07, just DB9's and Vantages?

[Agent57]

KevinBird said:

Over 7,000 in '07, just DB9's and Vantages?

Maybe the Bond effect with the DBS pushed sales up of all Astons after Casino Royale.

Interesting that half the sales now are SUVs but the sports car sales have fallen so the overall total to not really much higher.

[nickv12]

KevinBird said:

Over 7,000 in '07, just DB9's and Vantages?

And the original Vanquish (not that that would have been a significant number!).

Out interest, it would be good to learn the average value to AM for each sale in the respective years. I can imagine, even inflation-adjusted, AM “made” a fair bit more per car in 2021 compared to other years. Specials like the Soeedster and comparative DBX prices should help.

May even pay towards 10% of the annual interest they owe on borrowings…

[leerandle]

Obviously more car sales doesnt necesarily mean more profit.

Although, I assume AM (and other car manufactures) have a minimum % that they must make per car to ensure they stay in business.

Be interesting to know if there is any signifcant profit difference between the cars and DBX.

[Jon39]

KevinBird said:

Over 7,000 in '07, just DB9's and Vantages?

Yes, that is Aston Martin's all-time record year.

In the UK alone, just the DB9 and Vantage totalled 2,290 in 2006, and 2,031 in 2007.

Then the following year the financial crash began. Outside AML's control of course, but that slowed sales immediately.
Some new 4·3 Vantages remained unsold for a year and there were redundancies at Gaydon..


EDIT.
Have you seen the bar charts produced by PhilipO, near the foot on page 1 of this topic?
Very clearly shows which models contributed to each annual total (UK only).

Edited by Jon39 on Thursday 13th January 17:01

[krisdelta]

Looks promising - they've done well to find homes for 3000 DBX's

[Jon39]

nickv12 said:

... Out interest, it would be good to learn the average value to AM for each sale in the respective years. I can imagine, even inflation-adjusted, AM “made” a fair bit more per car in 2021 compared to other years. Specials like the Soeedster and comparative DBX prices should help.

May even pay towards 10% of the annual interest they owe on borrowings…

Are you thinking about the famous reputed David Brown quote, after being asked about buying a new Aston Martin at cost price? -

The table below might be of interest. It was posted on the previous page.
There is one interesting aspect, when looking back at the AML accounts during the Ford era. Car development costs were being reimbursed by Ford. Therefore, the reported profits might not have even been (stand alone) profits. Makes one think, because that was a period when sales were buzzing and employee numbers were lower, although LTP has mentioned a probable greater use of off books contractors then. No debt then either.


HISTORICAL PROFITS

Year		Pre-tax Profit		Notes
2000		£7.5m
2001		£7.6m
2002		£2.9m
2003		£12.5m
2004		loss £8.5m
2005		£23.3m
2006		£57.0m
2007		£6.5m		Ford sells Aston Martin
2008		£8.7m
2009		£6.9m
2010		£6.9m
2011		loss £33.1m
2012		loss £34.1m
2013		loss £25.4m
2014		loss £71.8m
2015		loss £128.0m
2016		loss £162.8m
2017		£86.7m		Year before the Stock Market flotation !
2018		loss £68.2m
2019		loss £104.3m
2020		loss £466.0m
2021

[krisdelta]

It's amazing how little profit the early VH platform era generated and a real shame it's never been the insane success it should be with broadly speaking very nice products and pretty much adored by all who see them.

[LTP]

@Jon39
Not exactly "off books" contractors - more paid out of a different finance revenue expenditure "bucket" rather than appearing in the headcount, which makes the Product Development and Overhead costs in the accounts look more efficient. "Off books" makes it sound like brown envelopes stuffed with used tenners and clandestine meetings on draughty railway platforms were involved

[Jon39]

LTP said:

@Jon39
Not exactly "off books" contractors - more paid out of a different finance revenue expenditure "bucket" rather than appearing in the headcount, which makes the Product Development and Overhead costs look more efficient. "Off books" makes it sound like brown envelopes stuffed with used tenners and draughty railway platforms were involved

Sorry Paul.
A poor choice of words by me. No brown envelope suggestions intended. -

As you will know, my explanation was just to indicate, that there might have been contractors who would not be included in the declared AML employee numbers.
Contractor numbers unknown of course, but my guess would be fewer people in total during the Ford days than now, especially considering the current two factories.
The direct employee numbers are certainly higher now.

Edited by Jon39 on Thursday 13th January 21:52

[Jon39]

krisdelta said:

It's amazing how little profit the early VH platform era generated and a real shame it's never been the insane success it should be with broadly speaking very nice products and pretty much adored by all who see them.

Yes, this is the main point krisdelta, and I think illustrates quite well, just how very difficult running this business has always been.

The largely handbuilt and carefully assembled products; the enormous development costs to be spread over a modest number of cars, it must all add up to huge overall costs. Now of course there is also about £100 million annually, for debt interest. Not at all easy.

I have recently seen some videos showing how the S-Class Mercedes is built. Also a luxury product when built, but I was amazed just how much of the work is done by robots. I thought Germany had strong employee unions, but M-B must have shed an enormous number of workers. The robots complete a work task, then hand on the component to another robot as if they are all humans. I don't think I saw it being done with the S-Class, but one of their models has the entire dashboard fully installed by robots. Not a worker in sight.

Remarkable how much of a car, even top quality models, can be built by robots. Expensive initial costs for robots obviously, but they don't ask for holidays, sick days, or threaten to strike when DB pensions are wound up. I guess the financial payback on that expenditure is probably fairly rapid.

[krisdelta]

Jon39 said:

krisdelta said:

It's amazing how little profit the early VH platform era generated and a real shame it's never been the insane success it should be with broadly speaking very nice products and pretty much adored by all who see them.

Yes, this is the main point krisdelta, and I think illustrates quite well, just how very difficult running this business has always been.

The largely handbuilt and carefully assembled products; the enormous development costs to be spread over a modest number of cars, it must all add up to huge overall costs. Now of course there is also about £100 million annually, for debt interest. Not at all easy.

I have recently seen some videos showing how the S-Class Mercedes is built. Also a luxury product when built, but I was amazed just how much of the work is done by robots. I thought Germany had strong employee unions, but M-B must have shed an enormous number of workers. The robots complete a work task, then hand on the component to another robot as if they are all humans. I don't think I saw it being done with the S-Class, but one of their models has the entire dashboard fully installed by robots. Not a worker in sight.

Remarkable how much of a car, even top quality models, can be built by robots. Expensive initial costs for robots obviously, but they don't ask for holidays, sick days, or threaten to strike when DB pensions are wound up. I guess the financial payback on that expenditure is probably fairly rapid.

It is a shame that AM has always been behind the investment curve and struggled to be a credible business. Maybe it should be nationalised? The debt / income ratio is terrifying.