Nissan Declined Stake In Aston Martin As Early As 2012

Cameron Aubernon
by Cameron Aubernon

Prior to becoming Aston Martin’s new CEO, former Nissan senior exec Andy Palmer proposed to the automaker to buy a stake in AM, only for Nissan to decline.

Reuters reports Palmer brought up the issue Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn in 2012 and 2013, with one insider claiming the company “looked carefully at the proposal” before rejecting the idea. Said insider declined to explain the proposal or the reasoning behind the rejection, as did a representative for the company.

Meanwhile, Palmer’s new role as AM’s CEO may lead to more cooperation between the premium automaker and Daimler AG, the latter already in possession of a 4 percent stake in the former while also providing engines and electronics to Aston’s offerings. Palmer helped Daimler and Nissan’s Infiniti develop a similar relationship, resulting in a joint-venture on a plant in Mexico, as well as a family of engines to be shared with the Q50 and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Cameron Aubernon
Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

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  • Wmba Wmba on Sep 09, 2014

    Aston finally designs the new Lincoln just a few years late.

  • Robc123 Robc123 on Sep 09, 2014

    A skyline Aston would be very cool. Silvia, would look hot. Then have some bleed over to the maxima... Fast, reliable and it looks good- who is doing that now?

  • Tosh Tosh on Sep 09, 2014

    Why do I see nothing but future Fusion?

  • Lou_BC Lou_BC on Sep 09, 2014

    Ford borrows the Aston snout for its cars and now Aston borrows the Lincoln snout. Aston got the short end of the stick.

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