Aston Martin slashes staff as US tariffs hit carmakers

Aston Martin slashes staff as US tariffs hit carmakers

Aston Martin, which has faced years of struggles, reported a 52% rise in net loss in 2025 to US$667 million compared with 2024.

File photo of the Aston Martin logo on a V12 Vantage at the company’s factory in Gaydon, Britain. The job losses total around 600, with Aston Martin employing some 3,000 people. (Reuters pic)
LONDON:
British luxury carmaker Aston Martin on Wednesday announced plans to cut up to 20 percent of its workforce after widening annual losses on US tariffs and weak Chinese demand.

The job losses total around 600, with Aston Martin employing some 3,000 people.

Aston Martin, which has struggled for several years, added in a statement that its net loss jumped 52 percent last year to £493.2 million (US$667 million) compared with 2024.

“In 2025, the global luxury automotive market faced one of its most turbulent years in recent times,” group chief executive Adrian Hallmark said in a statement.

“Consumer demand was impacted by escalating geopolitical uncertainties and macroeconomic challenges, the most notable being the introduction of increased tariffs in both the United States and China.”

Automakers have been among the companies hit hardest by Trump’s tariffs onslaught as he tries to bring auto production back to the US.

Aston Martin limited imports to the United States in April and May while awaiting a trade agreement between London and Washington.

It resumed shipments in June after the deal slashed tariffs on UK car exports to 10 percent from 27.5 percent, on a limit of 100,000 vehicles annually.

Aston Martin said the outlook for the automotive industry “remains challenging” amid “uncertainties over the economic impact from the unpredictable threat or introduction of additional US tariffs, changes to China’s ultra-luxury car taxes and the continued reliance on a stable network of global suppliers”.

The group added that “while China remains a market with long-term growth potential, demand there remained extremely subdued in line with other luxury automotive peers”.

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