Aston Martin boss Lawrence Stroll has blasted the 2035 new sales ban on petrol and diesel cars as he suggested the move was “premature”.
Stroll Snr, the father of Formula 1 driver Lance Stroll, claimed the decision to ban new combustion vehicles was based on “hype” with concerns over customer interest in electric models.
He suggested the Government’s roadmap to fully transition to electric cars was unlikely to follow the same timetable.
According to The Telegraph, Lawrence explained: “We’ve just felt a real lack of consumer demand… and we’ve seen and listened and read and heard what all the other big [carmakers] are going through in terms of pulling back – that it’s just not happening at this pace and time.
“Do I ultimately think we all get there? Yes. Do I think it’s going to happen as initially planned? Most definitely not.”
Recent data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) painted a relatively bleak picture for the EV market
According to the data, there was only a 3.8 percent rise in the number of battery electric models sold in March 2024 compared to 12 months before.
Meanwhile, petrol sales were up 9.2 percent with the majority of motorists yet to buy into the new electric vehicle technology.
Mr Stroll added: “Obviously, [legislation] was premature. We don’t have the charging abilities put in place to deliver the initial time expectations, nor the demand.
“So you know, politically, you cannot drive consumer demand. Let me put it like that.
“Consumer demand will be what consumer demand is, and that does not necessarily – as proven in this – follow legislation.”
Mr Stroll claimed there would “always” be demand for sports cars fitted with petrol engines as he pledged to continue producing combustion models until he was stopped.
He added: “As long as we’re allowed legally to keep making them, we will keep making them.”
The move will position Aston Martin away from competitors such as Rolls-Royce and Jaguar who have decided to work towards an all-electric lineup.
Earlier this year, Aston Martin announced it was delaying the launch of its first electric vehicle by another year.
The model is now expected to hit the market in 2026 instead of the previous 2025 target the teams had been working towards.
