Aston Martin brings leather to a helicopter. The ACH130 Aston Martin Edition, a luxury helicopter resulting from the collaboration between the British car manufacturer and the French Airbus Corporate Helicopters (ACH), has been presented. A typical example of how Aston Martin is expanding its areas of activity: cars and motorbikes, aircraft and architecture. But also a “debut” that fails to push aside a financial situation that, in 2019, has become complicated.
2019
According to the newspaper La Repubblica, which cites a note from the English company, its sales in 2019 were down by 7%, stopping at 5,809 cars. The cut in the adjusted EBITDA is drastic, around 130/140 million pounds. Being 247 in 2018. According to La Repubblica, Aston Martin “since the IPO in 2018 has lost 75% of its value by trying to emulate Ferrari’s fortunes on the stock exchange”. Result, also confirmed by the trend of December 2019: lower sales, higher costs, lower margins”. Andy Palmer, CEO of Aston Martin, called 2019 “a very disappointing year. We are taking a series of actions to manage the business through this difficult period”. These include: “A cost savings program” and “the recovery of our strong price positioning”. Without excluding the entry of “new investments in capital”.
The news
Aton Martin relies heavily on the performance of the DBX SUV. And launches some new initiatives. Like the special edition of the ACH130 Aston Martin Edition, a helicopter that can be ordered in four different bodies. Always with leather as a distinctive feature. The interiors, to which the designers of the two companies have worked for over a year, resemble those of cars.
Leather
It is Pure Black suede that can be combined with a series of other leathers in different colours. The same used for almost all Aston Martin car models: Oxford Tan, Cormorant and Ivory. Even for rear seats all the details are in leather, with padded armrests to ensure maximum comfort. And even the helicopter hatches are finished in leather “to offer passengers comfortable contact points during the flight”. ACH130 Aston Martin Edition is available upon request with deliveries starting at the end of the first quarter of 2020.
Image from Aston Martin web site
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