Is Aston Martin owned by Ford?
No. Ford does not own Aston Martin.
A deeper look into the ownership history shows how a once Ford-backed luxury carmaker became independent, with private investors and a London Stock Exchange listing shaping its current structure. This article summarizes the key milestones and the present ownership landscape.
A brief look back: how ownership evolved
Here are key milestones that illustrate the shift from Ford's control to private ownership and a public market presence.
- 1994: Ford Motor Company acquires a controlling stake in Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd and integrates the brand into Ford's Premier Automotive Group, leveraging Ford's engineering resources.
- Late 1990s–early 2000s: Aston Martin benefits from Ford's platform engineering and shared development while preserving its distinctive brand identity.
- 2013: Ford sells its remaining stake as Aston Martin transitions to private ownership under a consortium led by Investindustrial and Kuwait's Investment Dar, ending Ford's direct involvement.
- 2018: Aston Martin completes an initial public offering (IPO) on the London Stock Exchange, establishing Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc as a publicly traded company with a broad investor base.
- 2020s: The company operates under private ownership with minority investors; a continuing technology collaboration with Mercedes‑Benz (Daimler) has influenced engineering directions at times.
The arc from Ford's control to independent ownership shows how the brand evolved into a standalone luxury automaker with public market access while maintaining collaboration with former partners for technology and expertise.
Current ownership structure
Private ownership and public market presence
To understand who owns Aston Martin today, it's best to look at the main shareholders, the public market status, and notable partner relationships. The structure has evolved through private equity influence and a public listing, with ongoing partnerships that influence strategy and technology.
- Controlling shareholder: Investindustrial, a private equity group that has led the ownership group since the late 2010s.
- Public float: A portion of shares is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange, giving institutional and retail investors a stake in the company.
- Minority investors: Historically, Daimler (Mercedes-Benz) held a small minority stake as part of a broader technology collaboration; the exact stake has fluctuated over time.
- Other investors: A mix of private funds and individual investors contribute to the free float and strategic direction alongside the controlling investor.
Overall, Aston Martin is no longer Ford's property. It operates under a private-equity-led ownership structure with public market participation, and it maintains ongoing technology partnerships that contribute to its product development.
Summary
Bottom line: Aston Martin is not owned by Ford. The company moved away from Ford's control in 2013, transitioned to private ownership led by Investindustrial, and later expanded its capital base through a London IPO. While Daimler/P Mercedes-Benz has been a minority partner in the past and participates in technology collaboration, Ford has no ownership stake in Aston Martin today.
What companies are owned by Ford?
Ford currently owns the Ford and Lincoln brands, along with Motorcraft and Omnicraft parts brands. Historically, Ford owned many other companies and brands, including Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin, and a stake in Mazda, but has since sold or divested from them.
Currently owned brands and companies
- Ford: Ford's main brand.
- Lincoln: Ford's luxury vehicle brand.
- Motorcraft: A brand for automotive parts.
- Omnicraft: Another brand for automotive parts.
- Troller: A Brazilian brand of off-road vehicles.
- BlueOval SK: A joint venture for electric vehicle battery production.
- Changan Ford: A joint venture for vehicle production in China.
Historically owned or partnered brands (now sold or divested)
- Mercury: A brand that was discontinued in 2010.
- Volvo: Sold to Geely Automobile in 2010.
- Mazda: Ford sold off its stake in Mazda, with ownership down to less than 2% by 2015.
- Aston Martin: Ford sold its stake in 2007.
- Land Rover: Sold to BMW (prior to its sale to Tata Motors).
- Jaguar: Sold to Tata Motors in 2008.
Does Ford still own part of Aston Martin?
No, Ford does not own Aston Martin. Ford sold its majority stake in Aston Martin in 2007 to a consortium of investors, and Aston Martin is currently owned by a consortium led by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll.
- Ford owned Aston Martin from 1987 until 2007.
- Ford sold Aston Martin to a group of investors, which included David Richards, Investment Dar, and Adeem Investment.
- In 2020, a consortium led by Lawrence Stroll took a major stake in the company, with Stroll becoming the executive chairman.
- Aston Martin also has a partnership with Mercedes-Benz.
Which company owns Aston Martin?
Aston Martin's parent company is Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc, which is publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange. While the company is publicly traded, major shareholders include a consortium led by Lawrence Stroll (Executive Chairman), the Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), and Geely. Mercedes-Benz also holds a significant stake and is a key partner.
- Parent Company: The official parent entity is Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc.
- Major Shareholders: No single company owns a majority of Aston Martin; ownership is shared among several key investors.
- Lawrence Stroll: Canadian billionaire and executive chairman who led a consortium that invested in the company in 2020.
- Public Investment Fund (PIF): Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund is the largest single shareholder.
- Geely: Chinese automaker Geely has also invested in the company.
- Mercedes-Benz: The German automaker has a significant stake and a partnership to supply engines.
Do Aston Martin use Ford parts?
Aston Martin was caught using Ford parts in their luxury vehicles. Everything from switches to engine component. A company exec actually admitted that most Aston Martin buyers have never sat in a Ford so they'd have no idea that they're even in there.
