Aston Martin Issues Profit Warning Due to US Tariff Challenges and Seeks Official Assistance

Aston Martin has attributed a profit warning to Donald Trump's trade duties, as it calling on the British authorities for greater proactive support.

The company, producing its cars in factories across England and Wales, lowered its earnings forecast on Monday, marking the another revision in the current year. The firm expects deeper losses than the previously projected £110 million deficit.

Seeking Official Backing

Aston Martin expressed frustration with the UK government, informing shareholders that despite having engaged with representatives on both sides, it had productive talks directly with the American government but needed greater initiative from British officials.

The company called on UK officials to protect the interests of niche automakers such as itself, which create thousands of jobs and add value to local economies and the wider British car industry network.

Global Trade Impact

Trump has shaken the global economy with a trade war this year, significantly affecting the automotive industry through the imposition of a 25% tariff on 3rd April, in addition to an previous 2.5% levy.

In May, the US president and Keir Starmer reached a agreement to cap tariffs on one hundred thousand UK-built cars annually to 10 percent. This tariff level came into force on June 30, aligning with the last day of Aston Martin's Q2.

Agreement Concerns

However, the manufacturer criticised the trade deal, arguing that the implementation of a American duty quota system introduces further complexity and limits the group's ability to precisely predict earnings for this financial year end and potentially quarterly from 2026 onwards.

Other Challenges

The carmaker also pointed to reduced sales partially because of greater likelihood for supply chain pressures, especially after a recent cyber incident at a major UK automotive manufacturer.

UK automotive sector has been shaken this year by a digital breach on the country's largest automotive employer, which prompted a production freeze.

Market Reaction

Stock in the company, listed on the LSE, dropped by over 11 percent as markets opened on Monday at the start of the week before partially rebounding to be down 7%.

Aston Martin sold 1,430 vehicles in its third quarter, missing earlier projections of being roughly equal to the one thousand six hundred forty-one vehicles sold in the equivalent quarter last year.

Upcoming Plans

The wobble in demand coincides with the manufacturer gears up to release its Valhalla, a mid-engine supercar priced at around £743,000, which it hopes will increase profits. Deliveries of the vehicle are scheduled to begin in the final quarter of its fiscal year, although a forecast of about 150 deliveries in those three months was below previous expectations, due to engineering delays.

Aston Martin, well-known for its roles in James Bond films, has started a evaluation of its upcoming expenditure and investment strategy, which it indicated would probably result in reduced capital investment in R&D versus previous guidance of approximately £2 billion between its 2025 and 2029 fiscal years.

The company also told shareholders that it no longer expects to generate profitable cash generation for the second half of its present fiscal year.

UK authorities was contacted for a statement.

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